What's Saint Patrick's Day in Belfast like? How does it compare to St Paddy's Day in your city?

I know that our intro states “no shamrocks, no shillelaghs, no shenanigans” generally we try to adhere to that, but on Saint Patrick's Day it's simply impossible not mention some of those aspects, usually to be avoided at all costs.
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So we're in Donegal Place in Belfast for this film, right in front of the city hall with the crowds gathering for the Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations.
For those watching from another planet, St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and he is celebrated is Ireland, and in many other countries where there’s a strong Irish diaspora, on 17th March each year.
But that hasn’t always been the case. And you can see a strong police presence in this film along the parade route in High Street.
While Saint Patrick was a fifth century saint, and so obviously has no link either to Catholicism or Protestantism, rather more generally to Christianity, he is still (in the North of Ireland) a figure who divides.
This is because just under half of the community in Northern Ireland (according to the last census) identify not as Irish, but as British. Therefore, the trappings and imagery that go hand in hand with Saint Patrick’s Day - the Irish Tricolour, the shamrock - are difficult symbols for a large group of the population here to engage with.
I think you can see, in this film, a concerted effort to involve a wide community base in the celebrations, an attempt to move away from the connection purely to Irish Identity and to one of general civic celebration perhaps? That being said any trouble in relation to Saint Patrick’s day in Belfast is more likely to be centred up in the Queen’s University area of City, a place known as the Holy Lands, where a minority of revelling students often tend to make a nuisance of themselves.
I must say it’s nice to see these more recent Belfast communities becoming involved and there’s the banner - we are all Patrick. Inevitably we have a marching Jazz band. Actually it’s appropriate because the idea of a Saint Patrick’s day parade began, not in Ireland at all, but in the US, in the 18th Century, organised by the large Irish populations in Boston, Chicago and New York. The Irish St Patrick’s day parade is a 20th Century phenomenon.
I think it should be obvious to all watching that the Belfast’s parade hasn’t quite the extravagance or razamataz of a New York parade. I think this is probably a work in progress as the parade in the North of Ireland is a relatively new thing.
Amazingly it wasn’t until 2000 that St Patrick’s day was made a public holiday in Northern Ireland. The motion was finally passed by the NI Assembly after unionists amended it to include a condition that the Union flag would be flown from Government buildings on that day. So, that gives you an insight into the historical complexities of celebrating St Patrick in the North. On that occaision, DUP politician Sammy Wilson said, “no self respecting protestant would be content to take part in a Saint Patrick’s Day parade.” I think attitudes have moved on a bit from that, but tensions are still often present.
Here we see the St Patrick day sterotype. The green Leprecaun suit and the ginger beard. But I guess this bit of fun is ok on a day such as today?
Obviously traditional Irish music is something that is all around us on a day like today - the convoy seems to be a bit stuck here, but it gives us a chance to hear the music. And in true postmodern style the Irish music is fused here with samba drumming - albeit not quite locking in with the rhythm of the celtic sounds at times. I think it’s fair to say that Belfast’s St Patrick’s day is no Rio de Janeiro carnival!
Of course it’s started to rain here too, which threatens to put a dampener on things. But rain is something we expect in March in Belfast.
We see several impressive floats including on depicting an Irish wolfhound, the dog associated with Irish legend Cú Chulainn and, therefore, symbolic of Ireland in itself. This is quite a feat of engineering and it’d be good to see more floats of this proportion and quality in the future.
We see another impressive float. I’m not sure of the snake’s significance, it does look like it might have a connection to the Chinese community, but of course Saint Patrick is reputed to have banished snakes from Ireland so perhaps that’s the link here.
It is traditional on Saint Patrick’s day to wear green, the colour associated with the emerald Isle. The shamrock came to be the symbol of Saint Patrick since legend has it that the saint used the three leaves of the shamrock it to explain the holy Trinity in his teachings. Hence the shamrock is often worn on lapels on St Patrick’s day.

[@elizaphe58]

We used to have the Day off School but had to go to Mass and wear something green and it was a solemn Mass.The men then went to the Pub lol.Then the Education Dept decided the Catholics were having too many Feasts Days off! So we had to be in School but went to Mass on the Day.I'm in Spain this year and last year a great event was put on by the Irish Community! Everyone is Irish on the day!

[@nakedireland]

It’s a day for enjoying yourself and who doesn’t like a day off work?

[@WelshRob1964]

I never knew that St Patrick's day parades were a 20th century thing I Ireland. I also didn't know about the clover leaf and St Patrick's teaching use of it, cool. I must admit to being more taken with the architecture above the Candy Galore store, that is quite some building. A film on architecture above the modern shop fronts perhaps one day? I am one of those people walk down a high street looking up at the often beautiful architecture rather than the shops themselves 😀

[@nakedireland]

Yes Rob, there are still some nice buildings in Belfast, though a lot of them have been lost. I’ll do a film on the Primark building at some point. It’s just across the street from that building you saw. It’s a cracker, it recently burnt down and now it’s been rebuilt. That might be of interest. There’s another film about O’Connell street in Dublin coming out soon too, it touches on the architecture.

[@WelshRob1964]

@@nakedireland I look forward to seeing the films. I suppose I should do some on my local architecture, put my money where my mouth is lol. Ummm we will see...

[@elizaphe58]

My late Dad said it was the only day you could married on as it fell in Lent and no one used to get married in Lent years ago.

[@nakedireland]

I did not know that.

[@relentless1989]

there was a reason we couldn't celebrate ST Patricks day until the 20th century... am the brits

[@nakedireland]

I think it’s more complicated that you eloquently put it, but yes, I think it’s all explained in the video, in as much detail as it’s possible to get into.

[@kathleendonnelly4210]

@@nakedireland Looks like a Mardi GRA Parade. Not St. Patricks Day.

[@nakedireland]

I think the Belfast parade is a work in progress Kathleen.

[@nakedireland]

Saint Patrick was active as a 'missionary' in Ireland in the 5th Century. He couldn't possibly be described as a British Evangelical Preacher (though such a description did entertain me). You see, in the 5th Century Britain was at the end of its Roman occupation and so the idea of him identifying as 'British' (a term that was very different then than what we understand today, if it meant anything at all) is ludicrous. In fact we think Saint Patrick was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave initially. Returning, as he did, to preach Christianity, he is thought to have landed in Wicklow, spent time around Skerries and even made his way to the west, before arriving in the province of Ulster. He certainly wasn't sent to Ulster. Did he preach God's Word to heathen Irish, absolutely, though coming as he did from Roman Britain he may well have had much conversion to do there as well! I hope that helps you?