Tag: St. Patrick’s Day

History Lessons

The History of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The tradition of holding a parade on St. Patrick’s Day Parade began in its most famous annual location—New York City—where Irish soldiers brought a taste of their homeland to colonial Manhattan. Hundreds of years later, parade-watchers decked in green continue to line the city’s streets every March 17th for the popular event. The world’s first… continue

History Lessons

On St. Patrick’s Day, Lincoln presented a flag

About to raise a flag, Lincoln exhorts his audience. (Library of Congress)

On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1865, less than a month before his assassination, President Abraham Lincoln had a captured battle flag and freed slaves in mind as he offered “a few words only” to members of the 140th Indiana Regiment. Around 4 p.m., he spoke from a balcony at the National Hotel in Washington,… continue

History Lessons

Irish flag’s colors have meaning

People marked St. Patrick’s Day in many ways: eating corned beef and green cabbage, drinking green beer, and “the wearin’ o’ the green.” So why does the national flag of Ireland have two colors in addition to the hue that has traditionally represented that country? The World Factbook describes the Irish flag as having “three… continue