How are you spending St. Patrick’s Day this year?
“This year is different because we won’t be going to the parade,” said sophomore Lauren Mazze. “So many families are concerned about COVID-19, so we won’t be going to anyone’s house either.”
While the holiday may be a time of celebration for some, the longstanding 259-year tradition of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City has gone awry due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Previously, each year, nearly 3 million people lined the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the procession.
According to HISTORY.com, “The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green. Today, the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants.”
Many students say that their traditional St. Patrick’s Day plans will change this year.
“Usually my family and I would go to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York, then we would meet more family and friends at an Irish restaurant for a night of music, food and dancing,” said sophomore Sarah Arcuni. “I’ll miss going to the parade, being with extended family and being at the restaurant we’ve been going to for years.”
According to irishcentral.com, the parade will honor first responders and essential workers for the ongoing pandemic. It will not include representatives from any of the traditional groups that march in the parade because of restrictions on the size of gatherings. Spectators will not be allowed to watch the parade in person, but it will be livestreamed for all to view safely from home.
Regardless of the adjustments, some students have expressed discomfort toward the idea of even being in the city during the pandemic.
“No one’s going to willingly take their mask off to go out and enjoy the holiday,” said sophomore Nina Manganello. “You’re not able to gather in the same way with the people you typically would.”
Additionally, some students have been concerned about how they will spend their holiday.
“Going from normally spending a holiday surrounded by hundreds of people to not even being able to be around more than a few with masks is very different,” said Mazze.
For some seniors, this holiday has become bittersweet.
“It stinks we can’t go to bars for St. Patrick’s Day because it’s the last year that my friends and I will be living so close,” said senior Megan Mango. “I would’ve never guessed that the virus would still be in full force an entire year later, but it’s best to keep myself and everyone around me safe.”
However, other students have created alternative ways to celebrate despite the circumstances.
“This year I’m probably going to go to dinner with my roommates,” said sophomore Tara Matthies. “I used to be with a huge group of people, but because of COVID-19, I’ll only be with my roommates.”
While St. Patrick’s Day may be celebrated differently this year, for some, this is only one example of the way the pandemic has changed annual traditions.
“COVID-19 has changed my normal traditions drastically,” said Arcuni. “From going out without a thought to now spending holidays home with the utmost caution of not getting COVID-19.”
