10 Best St. Patrick’s Day Festivals in the U.S.

St. Patrick’s Day started out as a religious holiday commemorating the patron saint of Ireland. Today “St. Paddy’s” in America has become a celebration of Irish food, culture, and drink, as well as anything having to do with the color green. Typically observed with loud music, dancing, parades and green beer, St. Patrick’s Day festivities happen everywhere in the country, and they are perfect opportunities for beer enthusiasts everywhere to come together and have their fill.

No matter where in America you live, chances are there’s going to be a festival in a city near you come March 17. Below is a list of what we think are the top 10 St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the U.S.

1. Downtown Chicago

Downtown Chicago hosts one the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. It begins with the world-famous dyeing of the Chicago River. The huge, vibrant green river flowing through the middle of the city is a must-see sight.

After the dying of the river, people cluster up along Columbus Drive to witness the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, replete with pipe bands, giant floats, Irish dancers and tons of other entertainers commemorating Irish culture. Then it’s on to the nightlife, as the party continues in the many Downtown Chicago bars and nightclubs.

2. Boston

St. Patrick’s Day first came to America in 1737, and the holiday was first celebrated in none other than Boston, Massachusetts. Over 850,000 people show up every year to this Irish bash, many of them from out of state. And with the population of the city being 16% Irish, Boston hosts one of the most enthusiastic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country.

Boston starts partying a full week before St. Patrick’s Day. This year, the city will host the fourth annual Gaelic Gourmet Gala, featuring top chefs from Ireland and Boston. Throughout the week there will be Irish band concerts as well as beer and food specials at bars and restaurants, like the 75 Chestnut, for those who dress their Irish best. On the 15th, South Boston hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, with an estimated 600,000 people showing up.

3. Washington D.C.

There are many, many celebratory events and activities throughout the Nation’s capitol come St. Paddy’s Day. The most famous of these is probably the Shamrock Festival at the RFK Stadium. It happens on March 14 and it’s an all-day event showcasing over 50 Irish bands, dancers, games and other activities.

There’s a huge parade the following day, featuring bagpipe players, and Irish folk dancers, as well as the required floats and marching bands.

4. New York City

New York City has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a parade since 1762. They expect well over 1 million people to show up. There are over 150,000 marchers alone. Green beer and the sound of bagpipes will be everywhere in the streets of NYC.

If you get there a few days earlier, take the time to make the pilgrimage to the beautiful St. Patrick’s Cathedral as well as the many Irish Pubs and Bars scattered throughout the city.

5. St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is by far the best mid-western city for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. To start, Michelob sponsors a 5 mile run on the 14th. There is then a huge St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown St. Louis, featuring character balloons, Irish dancers, equestrians and large floats.

At night, the celebration crescendos as people head off the many bars and pubs in the area offering festive drinks, plenty of green beer and Irish food.

6. Savannah, Georgia

Savannah has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with parade since 1825. What started out as a modest affair has turned into one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. Savannah’s parade draws crowds of over 400,000 people.

Dying the city’s fountains green is one of the traditions unique to the city. Seeing the green fountains, as spring starts creeping up on the Georgia city is one of the most enjoyable sights you can witness.

7. San Francisco, California

In the western United States, you won’t find a St. Patrick’s Day celebration that’s bigger or richer in history than the one that takes place in San Francisco. Called one of the most fashionable parades in the country, San Francisco’s St. Patrick’s Day parade follows the city’s iconic trolley tracks.

Afterwards the nightlife gets livelier throughout the city’s many Irish bars and pubs, as the celebration draws thousands of people from all over the state.

8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia has been celebrating the famous Irish holiday since 1771. The city’s annual parade is the second oldest parade in the country, and it is organized by the Saint Patrick’s Observance Association. The parade draws about 500,000 people and this year, it will be held on March 15th. There will be thousands of marchers and CBS will be broadcasting the event live.

9. Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City first held a St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1873. Today the event draws a crowd of about 200,000 spectators. One of the things unique to this particular parade is that the grand prize winner of the procession gets an all-expense paid trip to Ireland, so participants really give it their all.

After the parade, head over to Westport, where you’ll find some of the best post-parade drinking and partying establishments in town.

10. Dublin, Ohio

There are nine cities in the United States named Dublin, but Dublin, Ohio is the one that lives up to its name the most, especially when St. Patrick’s Day comes around. The city hosts a miles-long parade featuring floats, bands and leprechauns. There are plenty of post-parade bashes to attend.

If you are in the mood to explore some of the city’s Irish heritage, you can head over to the Historic District, and enjoy some Irish food and Celtic music.

source

If you like this post just click here Posted By crkota with No comments

Venice Carnival

Several thousands of masked residents and visitors attended the opening ceremony at St. Mark's Squarewhile shall to be held on on Sunday the main event, the traditional "Flight of Angels", during which costumed people, representing angels, going down the rope stretched from the top of the tower on the most famous Venetian square.
During the festival, whose theme this year is "Life is a theater" will be organized daily theater performances, concerts and balls.
 Carnival, which will last until 21 February, will be completed in the same place in the group with a kiss and a big fireworks display at midnight over the Venetian lagoon.

Carnival always ends on Ash Wednesday (known as “Mardi Gras” - Martedì Grasso), or "Fat Tuesday," and Venice's celebration normally starts a week and a half earlier on a Saturday. Venice carnival dates therefore vary in step with Easter as follows:

Carnival 2012: February 11 – February 21
Carnival 2013: February 2 – February 12
Carnival 2014: February 22 – March 4
Carnival 2015: February 7 – February 17
Carnival 2016: January 30 – February 9

History of Carnival
The Carnival of Venice dates back to 2 May 1268 and it is one of the oldest and most popular carnivals, along with the famous Brazilian carnivals, in the world.

The Republic defeated Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia in that year, and began a tradition of slaughtering a bull and 12 pigs in the Piazza San Marco around Shrove Tuesday to commemorate the victory. This celebration gradually grew and 1268 dates the first document mentioning the use of masks.

Carnival’s significance declined gradually through to the 1930s, when Mussolini banned it. In 1979, a group of Venetians and lovers of Venice decided to revive the tradition. Within a few years, the image of the masked reveller had become a worldwide icon of Venice in winter.

About masks
Masks made the Venetian Carnival unique. In the past, citizens would hide their true identity and social status behind a mask, and so for the carnival period Venice overturned social order. In this way, Venice temporarily overturned her social order. Some of the masks depicted Commedia dell’Arte characters. Others were more sinister. The white-beaked mask so famous from photographs is that of the plague-doctor; the beak echoes a doctor’s long breathing apparatus that held a sponge doused in vinegar, thought to hold the plague at bay. The Doges were frequently exercised by the dangers masks allowed, and passed laws limiting their use to within the carnival period; if you wore a mask at any other time of year, penalties were severe.

Here is official page:

Carnevale di Venezia

If you like this post just click here Posted By crkota with No comments

Towards the day of love... Where to go for a Valentine's Day?

Legend has it that Emperor Claudius I forbid men to get married, as he thought that married or engaged to men would not fight in the wars, because they will stay at home with their family. All priests are respected that decision, except Valentine. He still held wedding ceremony. Therefore he was thrown into prison, and on 14 February 269th decapitated. Shortly after that he was proclaimed as a saint, and from then 14.2. in the Catholic world is celebrated as the Day of St.. Valentine, Orthodox Christians celebrate St. Tryphon, while among young people this holiday popular as Valentine's Day.

Did you ever wonder who sent the first Valentine's Day card? The oldest card for this holiday was sent by the French Duke of Orleans while he was imprisoned in England, and he was wrote to his wife. A tradition of sending greeting cards of love comes from Sv. Valentine who was before his death sent a suicide note for a dungeon keeper daughter, who was blind. Sv. Valentin was on the end of the letter wrote "from your Valentine for the warmth that you showed to him," and then on the girl could see. Since this event Valentine greetings around the world fill the mailboxes.

However, the tradition of sending romantic letters and cards, slowly fading, but be original, and send card of this type to your loved one. And what might be even more delighted your loved one, if you write a card with plenty of love and hand in some of the most romantic city.

Is there anything more romantic than driving in the beautiful canals of Venice with the gondolas? Probably most would say "No". Therefore Valentine's Day spend in this town, located in northern Italy. In one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world can visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, San Sebastian Church, St. Mark Church and Rialto bridge.

For the most romantic date in the year you can go to Vienna. This is, by the quality of life, the first city in the world. as the major city of the European Union is the 10th . It is the largest city of Austria, and the place has full of cultural and historical sights. Walk with your loved one start from the center of Vienna, which is on the UNESCO list of cultural heritage, and visit the many museums, Mozart's home, Castle Belvedere, Schönbrunn Palace, Rupert's Romanesque church, the Gothic cathedral of St. Stephen, Parliament ...

Without doubt, the title of the most romantic city holds Paris. This is the capital and largest city of France, and the most visited tourist destination in the world. What the tourists first visit when they come to Paris? - Eiffel Tower, the most famous tower in the world, 324 m high. Then follows the tour to the Arc de Triomphe, then the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palace of disability, Concorde Square ... We recommend you to climb to the highest peak of Paris - Montmartre, which offers stunning views of the entire city.

The richest history from all of the world capital has Rome, the capital of Italy. Rome is the center of ancient culture and open-air museum. Numerous witnesses of the past and the cultural and historical monuments are located within the city. The most popular attractions in Rome, the most famous in the world is the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever built in the Roman Empire. In Rome there is a pantheon, or temple of all gods, numerous museums and villas, churches, castles, fountains ... Remember: "All roads lead to Rome".

If you like this post just click here Posted By crkota with No comments