h. nazan ışık—

16 March 2019—

Saturday, 16 March 2019 started as a nice, warm day, about noon it became windy, and colder. But it didn’t stop hundreds of people to gather on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, to watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

A spectator in his green costume was ready to celebrate, enjoy the parade.

The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is usually held on 17 March. But this year, the 258th St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held on 16 March 2019. I asked at least ten people why it was, and got three different answers. I’ll get to that later.

Members of the NYPD Mounted Police Unit on their beautiful, strong horses, led the 258th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

A unique aspect of this parade is that there are no floats, no motorized vehicles as we see during other parades. All participants including civic groups, dignitaries and the bands, are on foot, everyone marches in St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The bands, all bands, pipe and drums, high school bands and their dancers brought energy and set the pace.

Dancers performed on Fifth Avenue.

A spectator was enjoying the performance.

Hundreds of officers and service members marched too, during the parade.

I was standing on Fifth Avenue and 61st Street next to a gentleman who said he was there to see everything ran smothly. And to every service members, police officers who was marching he said” Thank you for your service!” Most of them approached and shook his hand.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, waving an Irish flag, marched with the NYPD during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill was with him.

The 258th St. Patrick’s Day Parade made its way from 44th Street up to 79th Street. But Mayor de Blasio left the parade on 66th Street.

The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is usually held on 17 March. But this year, the 258th St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held on 16 March 2019. I asked at least ten people why it was, and got three different answers:

“Tomorrow it is the 2019 NYC Half Marathon, maybe that’s why,” said one officer.

And one officer “It is never celebrated on Sunday,” said, but didn’t know why.

Yes, he was right. The answer was on the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade website;

“The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is usually held on March 17th. However, if the 17th falls on a Sunday, then the Parade is held on Saturday March 16th in order to observe the Sunday Sabbath.”

But the most interesting answer came from young parade goers.

“Well, there is a saying. The best medicine for a hangover is to drink more in the morning. If it is held on Sunday, how can you drink on Monday, a work day?”

Photographs © h. nazan ışık / NKENdiKEN

© h. nazan ışık