St Patrick’s Day in Birmingham is a hugely significant event, with the city’s parade being the first of its kind ever held in Great Britain back in 1952. The festival, which celebrates the patron saint, features a massive parade stretching over 3 kilometres and attracts more than 80,000 participants, making it the third-largest in the world after New York and Dublin. For more information, visit birminghamski.
St Patrick’s Day commemorates the conversion of pagan Ireland to Christianity. Since the 20th century, the celebration has evolved from a strictly religious observance into a vibrant cultural heritage of the ‘Emerald Isle.’ It’s celebrated annually on 17 March, the day of the saint’s death.
Irish Community in Birmingham and St Patrick’s Day
Birmingham’s connection to the Irish dates back to the early 17th century when many began emigrating to Great Britain to escape famine and hardship at home. These communities settled in the city’s poorest areas, often finding work on the new railway construction projects. A second major wave of emigration took place between the 1950s and 1980s. The Irish population in Birmingham grew significantly, and they became a key part of the workforce for local factories and construction sites. The newcomers primarily settled in the Digbeth and Deritend areas, which in time became home to a large number of Irish pubs and clubs.
The first St Patrick’s Day parade in Birmingham took place in 1952. A small group of workers from the Custard Factory marched despite being denied a permit. The next day, they were all fired for taking unauthorised leave. To this day, the Custard Factory hosts a photo exhibition about the annual city celebrations in the run-up to the ‘green day.’ The area is transformed into an ’emerald town’ for one of the largest free St Patrick’s Day events. The festivities include the Moseley Folk Festival, where people enjoy traditional food and drinks, accompanied by lively music. A tragic event in 1974 saw a fight break out in Irish quarter pubs, leaving 21 people dead and over 180 injured. The incident led to public protests against the Irish community and resulted in the parades being cancelled for many years. The lively St Patrick’s Day celebrations finally returned in 1996, and in 2022, the city celebrated the historic event’s 70th anniversary.
Enduring Traditions of the Celebration
The colour green is a key symbol of the celebration, representing the ‘Emerald Isle’ and the shamrock. St Patrick used the three-leafed clover to explain the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to pagans. Shamrocks are often painted on faces, buildings, and clothing. Cakes, biscuits, and other sweets are also baked in the shape of a shamrock on this day. Traditional dishes include Irish soda bread, beef with cabbage, and stew. It’s worth noting that the holiday often falls during Lent, when meat is usually forbidden. However, according to legend, St Patrick could turn meat into fish, so meat dishes are a common feature of the celebratory feast. The stew is also prepared in a unique way, with Irish stout being an essential ingredient. The drink is also consumed as part of a traditional ritual. A shamrock is dunked into a ‘Patron’s cup’ before the drink is finished, and the shamrock is then thrown over the left shoulder for good luck for the year ahead.
The St Patrick’s Day parade is impressive in its grandeur and beauty. The streets of Birmingham are filled with bagpipers in kilts, people dressed as the Irish mythical creature, the Leprechaun, dancers from local dance schools and more. In addition, the parade organisers in Birmingham search for and crown the best mum, as Mother’s Day is also celebrated in the UK in March.
Since the 1990s, St Patrick’s Day has also been celebrated in Ukraine, particularly in Kyiv and Odesa. Following the city centre parade, special parties are organised in local bars with concerts and dancing, where people raise a glass and share the Irish toast: ‘Better to spend the evening as if you have no tomorrow than to spend the evening as if you have no money!’