Baltimore's St. Patrick's Day Parade

 Over the weekend, I went to Baltimore’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. Ever since I can remember, “St. Patty’s parade-day” has been the biggest holiday celebrated in my family and with my neighbors. My grandma and “Pop-pop” come from Irish heritage so they even took my parents to the parade in Baltimore all their lives as well. From a very young age, I took Irish dance classes with my sister and my neighbor, and each year, our hard work and practice would pay off when we got to dance down North Charles Street in our dresses and ghillies for the parade.

My mom and I at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2008

Not any different from any other year, my family and neighbors all gathered at my house Sunday morning, March 16th, to “gear-up” in our festive green, Irish flags, and shamrock apparel before heading into Downtown Baltimore. My Dad, along with the other fathers in the neighborhood go down to the parade earlier in the morning to claim our spot each year on North Charles Street right across from Mick O’Shea’s Irish Pub. This year, for the 63rd annual St. Patrick Parade, the “Shamrock 5K” runners took off at 1pm, kickstarting the March down North Charles Street soon to follow.

My mom this year at the parade.

The streets lined with spectators to watch and celebrate Irish culture, music, tradition, and dance. There were high school bands marching down the street, floats of Irish dancers blasting their Irish reel songs, hurling athletes demonstrating their dribble, Irish Terrier dogs with their owners, and so much more. The Irish culture may not be popular in Baltimore, but its so much fun to celebrate! The Irish culture is distinct from Baltimore’s majority through Irish dance, Hibernian Societies, and faith traditions surrounding the Catholic Church and St. Patrick. The city’s racial and cultural identity is primarily African America, demonstrating different traditions and religious practices than Irish.

When the Irish immigrated to Baltimore in the early 19th century, they were a marginalized group, facing discrimination for stereotypes about their lifestyles. The parade serves an important role in demonstrating the non-majority culture’s resilience and perseverance, despite being underrepresented and struggling to establish their new lives in Baltimore and overcoming adversity after they had immigrated. This tradition is important for the people of Baltimore to experience heritage different from their own or the “majority” and learn more about the Irish culture. The inclusive environment of Baltimore has sustained the St. Patrick’s Day parade so well, being something I look forward to each year!

The St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshals.