Savannah hosts a very large St. Patrick's Day Parade annually -- today marks the 190th version (or so the hosts on WTOC - TV tell me). I am watching the parade "live" on a streaming feed over my compute screen at work, while I catch up on paperwork, grading, etc. Savannah's parade is both a joyful festival and a drunken 5-day "orgy" (perhaps without the sex)!
I left my house downtown early today (before 6:00AM) so I wouldn't be trapped by floats, onlookers, and noise just outside my door at the corner of East Hall and Liberty Streets. People were already stirring at that ungodly time -- for the love of beer, parades, and Irish tradition on St. Paddie's Day. This Festival is unique, not so much because of its size or impressiveness, but because of the tremendous effort put into it by the City/County/Region and the Irish community. You wouldn't think that Savannah, GA would be a haven for Irish culture -- on any level -- and you'd be mostly right; yet local Irishmen cling to their traditions and beliefs like drunken sailors clinging to a lifeboat.
By ethnicity I am Polish (or more probably Russian) -- and third generation "_____-American"! As such I lay no claim to this particular drunken event -- other than that it is a long-lived tourist tradition; and a considerable source of cash and commerce for local businesses. Long may they perpetuate the hype!
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