South Boston saw unprecedented scenes as hundreds of thousands of people lined up at the streets of South Boston as the iconic Saint Patrick’s Day Parade made a triumphant return. The last celebration of this magnitude was way back in 2019 or the pre-Covid-19 era. Of course, the events were canceled in 2020 and 2021, because of the world grappling with a pandemic.
The History of Celebrations in Boston
St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland, but the festivities honoring him are no longer restricted to Ireland alone, it has spread throughout the globe. Boston’s Irish-Americans celebrate it to this day.
The date of the first St Patrick’s Day parade is debatable. Some sources suggest it first took place in New York City, while other historians believe it started in Boston as early as 1724. Some others believe that it took place at Charitable Irish Society in Boston, founded in 1737, which is the time the first Saint Patrick’s Day parade was held in the city. The group was primarily made up of Protestant immigrants and was founded with the sole objective of saving the heritage and building an Irish community in Boston.
How It Was Celebrated
The St Patrick’s parade started off duly at 1 p.m. at the Broadway MBTA Station and started from the West Broadway and onto East Broadway before rounding off at Farragut Road. The sidewalks in the parade course were packed and how. The bars and restaurants also saw a big boost from the big crowd as they turned up at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The locals were all agog as they got to celebrate this big day after a long time. Everyone in Southie got to enjoy it with food, drinks, and a lot of fanfare.
The Organizer’s Take
Organizers of the parade, hosted by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, came to a decision that this year’s parade would run a shorter course. With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 still looming large on the horizon, the footfall was less than in previous years.
However, not everyone is happy with the shortened route, and criticism is flowing in from different quarters. The event has excluded the Dorchester Heights Monument that commemorates Evacuation Day, the time when British forces withdrew from the city of Boston on March 17, 1776.
The parade organizations offered their own reasons. They said that the parade was cut short because of the best interest of public safety. They were continuously in touch with the police and South Boston. They eventually drew the conclusion that the route was best cut short. They also expressed hope that the event would resume its normal course in the next year.
The Event Was Much Anticipated
Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day this year is a well-earned reward after the anxiety, trauma, and tragedy caused by the pandemic. The event was received by boisterous crowds who lined sidewalks, smiling away to glory. They were all wearing green and cheering for the first responders who jumpstarted the celebrations. Of course, in order to maintain the safety of the event, there were Fire trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles who drove down with all their sirens blaring.
People Are Jubilant With The Return of the Event
People have been happily boisterous, as events like these restore hope that all would be well again and everything would be as they were before the pandemic hit us. It is important to recognize and appreciate what people went through in the trying times.
The people of Massachusetts have not only been resilient, but they have been the epitome of the true human spirit, showing how you need to be gracious and kind to each other to tide over difficult times. The governor of Boston, Mr. Charlie Baker regarded this event as a big reward. He also mentioned the people deserved it completely and it was well-earned. The weather was great too as if the universe conspired to make everything better.
The vociferous crowd added to the feeling of good vibes. The ecstatic large turnout proved that the St Patrick’s Parade is back to its former glory! The residents are hoping that the event continues to make its mark in the calendar in the years to come with as much pomp and splendor as before.