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Students prepare for virtual Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations

By Nicholas Rosa, Staff Writer

For the second year in a row, Saint Patrick’s Day will be celebrated differently because of the pandemic. Many cities are still hosting parades, meetings, concerts, and parties, but they are doing it virtually this Saint Patrick’s Day. While others are canceling them altogether. 

Sophomore marketing major Katlin Murphy will miss the traditions of a normal Saint Patrick’s Day.

“Going to the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the city has always been a family tradition of mine. I heard that they are going to do the parade virtually. It’s not the same but people think it isn’t safe enough to have our normal Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations,” Murphy said. “It’s unfortunate that this will be the second Saint Patrick’s Day without the big parade and celebration we all love, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral will be streaming their annual Saint Patrick’s Day mass. Which will be available to watch on TV, as well as on their website on saintpatrickscathedral.org/live. The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day virtual parade will be on Wednesday, March 17, on nycstpatricksparade.org.

New York City’s Saint Patrick Day website has the schedule of events, pre-parade events, as well as more information for the virtual parade. Their website states, “Since we can’t be together this year in-person, we hope that you will join us virtually as we honor First Responders and Essential Workers who have made enormous sacrifices this past year during the pandemic.”

Some students are celebrating virtually this year and plan on having video call celebrations. 

“I love Saint Patrick’s Day and my family and friends do too. Instead of meeting up in person, we’re going to have an online party. My family and friends are all going to go on a video call so we can still celebrate together, while still being safe. There’s always next year for the normal parade,” Murphy said.

Freshman film major Sammantha Vesti will also be celebrating virtually. “I usually go to a friends’ party on Saint Patrick’s Day. I’m just going to stay at home this year, like I did last year. I really haven’t been going out much at all. I’m trying to be safe. I still want to celebrate the day, but it will be a much smaller celebration with my roommates. I’m going to put up some decorations and wear green like I always do,” Vesti said.

Senior computer science major Kiera Anderson usually goes into the city to celebrate Saint Patrick’s day with her friends, however she has different plans this year. 

 “We obviously didn’t get to go into the city last year, and we decided to not go again this year,” Anderson said. “It was a hard choice to make but I don’t think we’re at the point where it’s safe enough to celebrate normally yet. A few of my closest friends are still going to see each other this year and have a very small gathering outside, but we aren’t going into the city.” 

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced safer ways everyone can enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day this year. On their website the CDC states, “attending gatherings to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day increases your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19. The safest way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year is to gather virtually, with people who live with you, or outside and at least 6 feet apart from others.”

To get into the Saint Patrick’s Day spirit the CDC recommends decorating your house, making Irish-inspired recipes, watching a virtual Saint Patrick’s Day celebration and having an outdoor celebration while wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. 

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