St. Patrick’s Day 2016 By The Numbers
3:09 AMPosted by: John S Kiernan
Make sure to don your green and put down your keys if you want to avoid getting pinched come March 17th. Despite its religious undertones, St. Patrick’s Day ranks among the calendar’s biggest drinking days, as more than 33 million Irish-Americans and their compatriots around the world raise pints of Guinness and forkfuls of cabbage all in the name of the Emerald Isle.
But these good times are too often ruined by drunk driving incidents – which can have a devastating impact on both lives in general and wallets in particular. So in addition to checking out the interesting St. Paddy’s Day stats presented below, make sure to stay safe when celebrating this year. The cost of a quick Uber/Lyft ride pales in comparison to that of a DUI or a vehicular manslaughter charge.
St. Patrick’s Day already has the potential to be quite an expensive event, so make sure not to spend too much green as well. Related to that, we also interviewed a panel of leading economic experts about the economics of the St. Patrick’s Day, and you can check it out in our Ask The Experts section below.
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In search of useful savings suggestions and additional insight into the commercial side of St. Patrick’s Day, we posed the following questions to a group of leading experts. You can find their bios and responses below.
- Why is St. Patrick's Day so popular in the United States?
- Are large St. Patrick’s Day celebrations an economic boon or economic drain for cities?
- What are some social and economic considerations for cities considering hosting St. Patrick’s Day celebrations?
- How can local authorities promote safety and reduce alcohol related accidents on St. Patrick’s Day?
Kathryn Conrad Associate Professor in the Department of English at University of Kansas
Mike Cronin Professor and Academic Director of Boston College Ireland
Enda Duffy Professor in the Department of English at University of California, Santa Barbara
Bruce David Forbes Arthur L. Bunch Professor of Religious Studies at Morningside College
Mark M. Gray Research Associate Professor in the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University
Why is St. Patrick's Day so popular in the United States? St. Patrick's Day is a holiday with a long history in the United States, one of the chief countries of the Irish diaspora. The Irish are best known for their emigration during the potato blight and subsequent mass starvation in the 1840s, when they comprised the biggest single group of immigrants entering the US, but actually, Irish emigration to the United States had begun long before. Although it is a Catholic saint's feast day, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by both Catholics and Protestants in Ireland and abroad, and some of the first St. Patrick's Day parades in the United States were in the mid-1700s, celebrations of Irish pride that, for many Catholics, were also a response to the restrictive anti-Catholic Penal Laws that were still in effect in Ireland. St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the US have tended to be less religious than they were traditionally in Ireland, considered more to be an opportunity to promote Irish culture and heritage (and, eventually, Irish-American politicians). But we can probably attribute the current popularity of St. Patrick's Day to many Americans' perception of it both as a welcoming, fun holiday ("Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day!") and as an opportunity to drink alcohol, often to excess. Although some people might attribute the latter to the Irish, it is worth noting that, until relatively recently, Irish pubs were actually closed on very few days of the year — and one of them was St. Patrick's Day! Indeed, the celebration of St. Patrick's Day in Ireland now is heavily influenced by the expectations and demands of American tourists. St. Patrick's Day as a drinking holiday arguably has more to do with Americans and their desire for a party than with the Irish; we might keep in mind that Cinco de Mayo has seen the same sort of transformation in our country. Are large St. Patrick’s Day celebrations an economic boon or economic drain for cities? There are many factors that might contribute to the economic impact of St. Patrick's Day, and they will likely vary from region to region. Extra policing, alcohol-fueled destruction, and lower productivity on the day of and the day after are certainly costs to consider. Many businesses will find themselves empty on St. Patrick's Day, but others that have found a way to capitalize on the holiday with themed (green) merchandise, food, or alcohol may see a huge surge in business. What are some social and economic considerations for cities considering hosting St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? Many consider St. Patrick's Day to be an uncontroversial holiday, with the assumption that "everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day." But, as we have seen in New York, Boston, and elsewhere, some of Irish heritage or nationality may clash over how the parade is celebrated or who gets to participate. Since Irish identity and political visibility have been components of St. Patrick's Day parades in the US, particularly in communities with large Irish and Irish-American populations, these public clashes over versions of Irishness seem to me to be part of the territory. Nonetheless, cities with large Irish or Irish-American communities need to be prepared for the possibility of more vigorous debate over aspects of St. Patrick's Day parades, and, I would caution, to recognize that no one group "owns" St. Patrick's Day. How can local authorities promote safety and reduce alcohol related accidents on St. Patrick’s Day? This, I would imagine, is a perpetual challenge for local authorities, and obviously answers would vary depending on the size of the community. Promoting safe ride services, taxis, and designated drivers, and announcing that there will be random drunk-driving traffic stops, may help reduce alcohol-related accidents. Unfortunately, drinking often starts very early in the day; it may be worth considering a later parade start, since many see the time just before the parade as the signal to start partying. Pedestrian-friendly parades, like those in major cities with public transportation like New York or in neighborhoods like St. Louis's Dogtown, offer celebrants little reason to get behind the wheel while intoxicated — but they might also offer more opportunities for heavy consumption and the health impacts associated with binge-drinking. Mike Cronin Professor and Academic Director of Boston College Ireland 
Why is St. Patrick's Day so popular in the United States? St Patrick's Day is so popular in the US as it is essentially an American invention. With the arrival of the Irish in their millions from the mid-nineteenth century, the Irish rapidly began to mobilise and take key civic jobs as well as political power in many major cities. With this, the Irish were able to push their parade into civic spaces and onto the streets. It was a declaration of successful immigration and, given the public nature of parades and so on, each March became a spectacle that many non-Irish Americans embraced. Coupled with the process of commodifying St Patrick's Day from the 1920s (greetings cards, green everything, shamrock sales and so on), the day became a standard in the calendar of holidays that was there for all. Yes, it's now a day to celebrate things Irish, but it morphed, over the decades into a day where everyone can be Irish. Are large St. Patrick’s Day celebrations an economic boon or economic drain for cities? In the main they are a boom. The standard figure for the US in recent years is that sales relating to St. Patrick's Day amount to $4 billion. That's a lot of green beer, food and so on. For those cities that host parades there are the associated bed nights in hotels, consumer spending and also profile raising. New York is the biggest parade in the US, and one of the longest running and is in many ways synonymous with the New York brand. For other cities who were later to the parade, such as Savannah, they too have developed their St. Patrick's Day event as something that people want to see. The result ? A city of 150,000 people draws into it over 400,000 to witness the parade. This boosts the local economy and highlights the city in the public mind. There are costs clearly in terms of policing, staging the event and related public order offences, but, by and large it’s a benefit. What are some social and economic considerations for cities considering hosting St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? Size, visibility and disruption are key - to put on a large parade takes work, and safely transporting people in and out of the parade route is a concern. Unfortunately the day is associated with drinking, so these are often not sober crowds and this does create problems. Cities also have to consider who the parade is for - New York, Chicago, Savannah events are clearly highly visible and famous - this means they will get the coverage and leverage the city into the media consciousness. Local parades that are aimed at the local population as opposed to visiting spectators are easier to put on, but will not create any great economic or visibility bonus. Social issues have been important to the external view of parades in recent decades. The line taken by some parade organisers of the LGBT issue has played out negatively for some, as have the attitudes towards women in the parade. Also at issue is that many parade committees are from an older male, white, conservative tradition, and some of their choices in terms of who is in and out of the parade and what is displayed on the parade route does not necessarily reflect the views of wider society and can create controversy. How can local authorities promote safety and reduce alcohol related accidents on St. Patrick’s Day? Hard to do - and in many ways this is becoming the negative stereotype of the day. Morning parades are usually family orientated and pass off without incident. The problem for authorities is the remainder of the day when the parade is over and the partying and drinking begins. It has become a badge of honour for many to consume as much drink as quickly as possible on St Patrick's Day, and certainly much of the marketing and culture around the day promotes that 'tradition'. The problem for authorities is that they have usually done their job properly in the daytime around parades and other public events and got everyone in and out safely. To then police bars and private parties is difficult as are the attendant issues of violence, sexual assault and drink driving. What is needed there is a wholesale change in the way people view St Patrick's Day. Until it is no longer promoted and portrayed as a day of drunken excess is somehow allowable, then the problems will continue. Enda Duffy Professor in the Department of English at University of California, Santa Barbara 
What are some social and economic considerations for cities considering hosting St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? Irish cities have in recent years rediscovered St. Patrick’s day, to great economic benefit for cities such as Galway, Dublin, Cork, Limerick. Small towns and villages across the country have begun to have parades of their own. The Irish can in this regard provide lessons for US cities that do not currently have a St. Patrick’s day parade but are thinking of hosting one. First, they developed a family-centered, festival-style parade format. They abandoned old-style civic parades, which had become dull and tired, with creative, exciting artsy showpieces that involved the local arts communities, civic groups and creative organizations. Irish humor, comedy, and madcap creativity were paramount. Spectators lining the route might join in — there is a carnival atmosphere. The exciting spectacles and the party atmosphere drew huge crowds. It gave local groups, schools and art organizations a chance to come together to create displays. These people then had a stake in the parade, and brought in new audiences. They also showcased local creativity, enterprise and originality. (Larger towns appointed creative directors to coordinate the show). Here were moving billboards for the most exciting of local culture. The cities tapped the vast tourist potential of the parades, sometimes extending the event into a 5-day arts, culture, music and sports festival. One of the year’s worst times for tourism was transformed into one of the best. Hotel occupancy rates skyrocketed. Airbnb ads for apartments with parade route views became hot tickets. These events are promoted throughout Europe, as an ideal spring quick getaway, as well as among more traditional groups such as Irish-American travelers. The parades were not confined to ‘Irish’ culture — at least as it is traditionally thought of. Instead, they showcased how diverse Ireland has become: many Irish towns now have a sizable Brazilian population, to give one example. Nothing like a blast of the Rio Carnival to liven up a March parade in an Irish town! The new parades celebrated the new, diverse Ireland — and this, naturally, brought in much more mixed crowds. You did not have to be a big city to stage a parade. Many small towns decided to get in on the act, bolstering civic pride, but also showcasing downtowns that towns are eager to keep alive against competition from new suburban shopping centers. This also brought tourists to non-traditional venues. The creativity of the parade, and events staged around it, became the attraction — not the scenery and so on of traditional tourist sites. Places that saw few tourists in the summer, and none in March, were now attracting large crowds — and persuading them to stay over the weekend. These parades worked to attract people of all ages and demographics, centered on families. Irish drinking laws meant that most drinking was kept to the evening hours, when the parades themselves were over. There have been some incidents related to some of the large parades, but surprisingly few. By keeping the parades family-centered, they have been remarkably safe and an ideal day out for families with children. They bring huge crowds of all ages to explore and enjoy the city cores and to have some Irish ‘craic’ (the Irish term for a good time) while doing so. So what can American cities that would like to stage a parade learn from their Irish counterparts?
- Think originality, creative excitement, and diverse experiences. This will generate excitement and attract attention and crowds.
- Be sure to get local people to generate the creative buzz. Don’t let the parade be over-commercial or slick. On the other hand, people want more on a day out than groups of marching organization members. Creativity and creative energy is key.
- Advertise the event to potential tourists — and give them reasons to stay for a few days once they decide to make the trip.
- Make the parade part of a weekend or longer festival, with related music, sports, cultural and sports events. This further engages and showcases the creative folk, shows off the downtown and its venues, and gives tourists who have come to see the parade reasons to stay on.
- Make it a people’s parade, rather than primary a commercial venture. People want to engage with others in community events. The commercial benefits will follow. Showcase a lively, close-knit community: that is the spirit that will engage visitors, and persuade them to return.
- Remember, it’s springtime. Lots of countries have carnivals: St. Patrick ’s Day has become Ireland’s carnival. This spirit could easily be extended to American towns, especially ones that have some Irish-American identity (and what American town or city does not?). Think originality, excitement and a great day out in the historic downtown, and the commercial benefits will follow.
Why is St. Patrick's Day so popular in the United States? As a generalization, there are two kinds of holidays or celebrations: some focused more on recommitment (such as Easter or Memorial Day) and some focused more on partying (such as New Year’s Eve or Mardi Gras or, yes, St. Patrick’s Day as practiced in the United States). People need both. In addition to times of dedication and remembrance, a society also needs occasions to let go, to blow off steam, with reduced inhibitions. Why has the general public in the United States embraced St. Patrick’s Day, even those who are not Irish? Because it is a party. There is an interesting parallel here with Halloween, also of Celtic roots and also now adopted by the general culture. It too offers a chance for play and release; almost no one calls for a return to some kind of deeper meaning on either day. Commercially, Halloween has more economic impact than St. Patrick’s Day because it involves both children and adults, with all of their costumes, decorations, and treats. The dominant role of drinking on St. Patrick’s Day limits the consumers to adults, but the spending for alcohol on that day is nevertheless substantial, a part of our annual ritual calendar. Mark M. Gray Research Associate Professor in the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University 
Why is St. Patrick's Day so popular in the United States? Many tend to think of St. Patrick's Day being an important Catholic holiday and tradition. The saint's feast day certainly has significance in the Church. However, the bigger impact of the day is now arguably in secular popular culture. Catholics, Protestants, and those without a religious affiliation are about equally likely to say they have Irish ancestry. What is likely surprising to many is that among all Americans who claim Irish ancestry the most common religion is Protestant. But, of course, the notion that "everyone is Irish" on St. Patrick's Day now appears to be the most relevant factor. The day is more about nationalism/ancestry, tradition, and celebration. The clothing, food, and drink (everything green) is likely now of the greatest importance. As with many American holidays, the driving influence today appears to be commercial. There is no shortage of products one could buy on store shelves. There is no shortage of restaurant and pub specials advertised for the day. McDonald's has its own special shake for the "season.” I can't speak to the economic impact of the holiday but I certainly think it is a substantial revenue stream and people are buying enough for products to be on store shelves each year.from Wallet HubWallet Hub
via Finance Xpress
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