New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Postponed

Late last night New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted the news that the organizers of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade had agreed to postpone this year’s parade until further notice: “NEWS: The organizers of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC have agreed to postpone the parade given the evolving #Coronavirus situation.

“I thank the parade’s leadership for working cooperatively w/ us.

“We believe postponing the parade is in the best interest of public health.”

The parade had been scheduled to be held along Fifth Avenue on Tuesday March 17th.

The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of New York City’s greatest traditions. The first parade was on March 17, 1762 — fourteen years before the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. The first NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade was comprised of a band of homesick, Irish ex-patriots and Irish military members serving with the British Army stationed in the colonies in New York.

This was a time when the wearing of green was a sign of Irish pride but was banned in Ireland. In that 1762 parade, participants reveled in the freedom to speak Irish, wear green, sing Irish songs and play the pipes to Irish tunes that were meaningful to the Irish immigrants of that time.

Parade organizers have said that they are hoping to be able to hold the event later in the year. More news as it is reported.