Well, the seventeenth of March has come and gone, and with it, the most underappreciated holiday. As some of you might know, two Tuesdays ago was Saint Patrick’s Day. For me, it has never been that big of a deal. I eat some chocolate coins, laugh at the idea of leprechauns, and maybe dig something green out of my closet if I’m feeling extra festive. Next year, that will not be the case. I have taken it upon myself to inform my fellow students at CGA of the most unique ways they could celebrate in the hopes that St. Patty’s Day gets more hype.

If you’re ever in New London, Wisconsin, you might be able to witness a parade of “Leprechauns” changing all road signs to “New Dublin” for the day. This apparently comes from the large migration of Irish immigrants that completely changed the city. Unfortunately, or fortunately for drivers, you must be a member of the Shamrock Club to change any road signs. On top of the redecoration, children in hospitals and schools are visited by the leprechauns, and an adaptation of Finnegans Wake is performed.

If you’re not super comfortable with all the road signs in a town being altered, I suggest you find your way to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to witness the shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country. The parade takes place on the shortest street in the country (only 98 feet) and takes roughly an hour. Make no mistake, it has a day’s worth of fun packed in. Elvis impersonators and a Blarney-stone kissing contest are only a couple of the many activities you might find yourself in the middle of.

Finally, if you’re in the mood for a long flight, you can work your way over to Ise, Japan, where a St. Patrick’s Day Parade makes its debut at the Ise Shrine. I’m sure you’re wondering, but the Ise shrine has no connection to St. Patrick at all, and is dedicated to a Shinto sun goddess. Despite this, you can still have a blast watching the diverse cultures of the Japanese and Irish blend. People dress up as leprechauns, do jigs, and play bagpipes. If that wasn’t fun enough, an oyster festival is also on the agenda.

So now you know what you’re doing March 17, 2027. I’ll see you guys in Wisconsin changing road signs, or maybe in Arkansas, hanging out with Elvis. However you decide to spend the holiday, eating oysters or dancing jigs, I hope you take a moment to marvel about how so many different people experience the same holiday in different ways.

Happy late Saint Patrick’s Day!!

Sources:

https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/st-patricks-day-traditions