Virtual St. Patrick’s Parade in NY due to the pandemic

NEW YORK (AP) – The St. Patrick’s Day parade, a New York tradition that honors the city’s Irish heritage, will take place on Wednesday but virtually due to limitations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The holiday, known by its English name “St. Patrick’s Day ”celebrates Irish heritage in national culture. The celebrations include the prominent use of the color green, shamrocks, parades, and the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

While the massive procession was canceled due to the pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio along with Irish community activists and members of the National Guard marched down Manhattan’s Madison Avenue early Wednesday in an attempt to keep the tradition alive.

The faithful participated in a memorial mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which was broadcast live on television and the internet. At 10 am, a video with images of past parades was scheduled to be broadcast and later a show broadcast via Facebook with singers Andy Cooney and Moya Brennan.

It is customary each year that crowds of people line Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, which dates back to the 1760s.

Last year the parade was canceled as New York was just beginning to close businesses, restaurants and theaters due to the spread of the coronavirus, although a small group marched amid stubborn rain at 7 a.m.

The date until now was a bonanza for bars and restaurants in the city, attracting a large number of tourists.

This year, due to the pandemic, bars will not be able to sell alcoholic beverages unless they serve food at the same time, and only until 11 pm In addition, they will not be able to have more than 35% of their space with customers.

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