Burlington County St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching. This year, the holiday — celebrated every year on March 17 — falls on a Tuesday, but the county's annual parade is this weekend.

The Burlington County St. Patrick's Day Parade takes place in Mount Holly on Saturday. The parade begins at 1 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Plaza, where Route 541 becomes High Street. It is preceded by a 5K Run and 1 Mile Family Fun Walk to benefit recreation programs in the township.

The race starts at High and Washington streets. The committee will select a Miss St. Patrick and a Grand Marshal to lead the parade. Admission is free, and the event is sponsored by Village Idiot Brewing Company. For more information, visit mounthollyparade.com.

The American celebration of St. Patrick’s Day started as a minor religious holiday in 1631, according to National Geographic. The church declared it a feast day, and over time the day became associated with Irish-American tradition.

The annual holiday is celebrated on March 17 as it is the traditional death date of Saint Patrick.
The color green didn’t become connected with the day until the Irish Rebellion of 1798 — when Irish soldiers chose to wear green — since it was the color that most contrasted with the red British uniforms.

To read more about the history of the holiday and who St. Patrick was, visit National Geographic.