“Irish immigrants became good Americans without sacrificing their religious and cultural heritage”.

When winter days are ending and spring is arriving you might walk down any given street in New York, Boston or Chicago, and see weird green colored things. For example, in Chicago you might find the river dyed green and people wearing green colored clothing. you might see for example in Chicago city, The Chicago river dyed green , also many people wear something green, the traditional color in Ireland. What’s going on? It’s March 17 Saint Patrick’s Days.

This day is a very important national holiday in Ireland. In the United States it is not a national holiday but is especially popular in cities where many Irish-American citizens live.

Saint Patrick is a very famous and important hero of Ireland. He was a priest there many years ago, and gained fame by building many churches for the Irish people. Also is famous because he built many churches for the Iris people

During the celebration, many people display the Shamrock as a symbol of Saint Patrick’s Day; it’s a small green bush with three leaves and is the national flower of Ireland too.

In the United States Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many cities with big parades, Irish music and some family parties in the evening. A typical Irish dinner is often served, it includes: Boiled beef, cabbage, and potatoes.

“Irish immigrant had a rough start in the United States stuck in urban poverty and taunted by some of their neighbors. They and their descendants overcame the obstacle and prevailed”. (Kevin Kenny, professor of history at Boston College)”.

Immigrant from Ireland brought the Saint Patrick’s Days celebration to the United States. The Irish settled in America during the colonial period, this provoked certain hostility from the native born-American group known as Nativists. They were uncomfortable with the presence of the Irish immigrants and told them that their social behavior, impact on the economy, and their Catholic religion was not convenient for culture and American Society.

The Irish faced very poor living conditions. They lived in basements, cellars, and one-room apartments lacking natural light and ventilation. They suffered from illnesses ranging from cholera, yellow fever, typhus, tuberculosis, and pneumonia to mental illnesses and alcohol abuse.

Nowadays, the Irish are one of the most prosperous ethnic groups in the United State; they are over the national average on education levels, occupational status, income, and home ownership. John F Kennedy and Ronald Reagan are among the most famous Irish-American; both became United States Presidents.

Saint Patrick;s Day, celebrate with us pag 130, reading of my English course. Kenny, Kevin (13 February 2008) Irish Inmigrants in Uited States, America.gov.

Note: I am indebted to my friend Charles Hareford who gave me valuable help and check the grammar in this article.