St Patrick and the fun parade/day created by Irish-Americans

Saint Patrick's Day in New York begins at 11am when the parade starts to a rather (early-ish- by Uk standards) finish at 10/11 in the bars in NY, (though they will have started to drink at 4pm probably) it's such a great vibe, of music and celebration, in a sea of green clothes-  me included!
If you don't wear green apparently people pinch you affectionately.. I'm guessing on the cheek- I'm also guessing they're the ones on your face. :)

For once my brown face and British accent, with my green jumper, were just a glimpse in the crowd.

Sadly I haven't always had the same tolerance at home if I am totally honest, I felt more comfortable here, alone in the crowds with my camera, than I would in the UK or in the parade in London.
It was so mixed in diversity and socially (and drinking hadn't started), people encouraged you to take part in the cheers and shouting to the walkers in the parade.

Firefighters of Manhattan

Firefighters of Brooklyn and Queens

Army and Navy- no pun to the shop intended..

All those in service in someway were in the parade, firefighters, police, army, navy, air force, even sanitation people. I think it'd be nice to celebrate these people who keep us safe and clean too in London, it's a great way to recognise their service in a happy and fun way rather than just memorial days.
There were a number of schools and marching bands from all over the country, as well as some Irish counties being represented, and some political figures of New York dotted in here and there.

NYC Police in shades...

When the drinking did start  everyone was singing along with the tunes in the bars, the men in uniform pretty much had their pick of the ladies, and I'm sure the ladies in uniform benefited too and everyone was in a great mood! One big street party... almost!

So from living so close to Ireland for so much of my life, I realise that I knew nothing really of the story of St Patrick, then a wise lady on Facebook, informed me that St Patrick's Day and all it's festivities were invented by the Americans?!

Music!

Dancing!

Surely not, I thought but on the national geographic website Phillip Freeman of the Luther College of Iowa describes: St Patrick wasn't even Irish, but born in Britain. "At 16, Patrick's world turned: He was kidnapped and sent overseas to tend sheep as a slave in the chilly, mountainous countryside of Ireland for seven years.
According to folklore, a voice came to Patrick in his dreams, telling him to escape. He found passage on a pirate ship back to Britain, where he was reunited with his family.
The voice then told him to go back to Ireland.
"He gets ordained as a priest from a bishop, and goes back and spends the rest of his life trying to convert the Irish to Christianity," Freeman said.
Patrick's work in Ireland was tough—he was constantly beaten by thugs, harassed by the Irish royalty, and admonished by his British superiors. After he died on March 17, 461, Patrick was largely forgotten. But slowly, mythology grew around Patrick, and centuries later he was honored as the patron saint of Ireland."
Freeman agrees "St. Patrick's Day was basically invented in America by Irish-Americans".
This is probably true, because the majority of Irish immigrants, who numbered one in four back then, in the US were Protestant and so would not have celebrated this as a religious festival. But more as a connection to their homeland. And invent a good time they did! Of course it's celebrated in Ireland, but it's called a festival, looks very creative and inclusive too- heres some pic's from Dublin this year.

Today in New York it felt you didn't have to be Irish to take part; besides, St Patrick wasn't Irish either!

World Aids Day in the Big apple

The temperature has dropped since the summer and we are having a good rainfall here December 1st, World Aids Day.

Many buildings, including the Empire State Building, the JFK Control Tower, the NASDAQ Marketsite Tower in Times Square and Brooklyn Borough Hall will be lit in red to draw awareness to AIDS prevention.  The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum  will also be lit in red. For information, visit www.joinred.com.


 Lights on the Washington Square Park Memorial Arch will be switched off during a "Light for Rights" media event from 5:30  p.m. to 6:30  p.m to remember those who  have died of AIDS.  Fifth Ave. at Washington Square Park North.)
Such an amazing tribute by so many buildings, keeps aids in the minds of everyone, young and old, living with it, affected by it or not, it'd be good if we followed this example in London.
This day has always been important to me, as it has been a illness of our time as it were.
Finding out a good friend lives with it, has made it all the more important.
Wear your red ribbons today.

New Yorker ways..

We finally have the keys and bought the basic furniture for our new home, and we move in officially on Friday :) happy days! We will move from the very noisy neighbourhood of the Lower East side, and up by the park in the Upper West!!
Though I will need to live without my creature comforts like a dishwasher (I guess I am spoiled) and even a washing machine in the house. I'm gonna have to go to the base of our building to get it done... feels a bit like a student. So instead of boring you with my week of waiting for furniture to arrive and buying mattresses and other such exciting events I thought I'd include some of the things I've noticed that are culturally different, sometimes traffic conscious, sometimes funny, sometimes fashion focused....

Crossing the street

London-
Wait on the pavement for the green man to show when it's time to cross.
Or leg it quickly with a decent gap in the traffic.
New York-
Walk into a road, where traffic is coming thick and fast, straight past you one option is to wait for the 'white man' signal (I've no idea what else to call it -we call it red and green man!) and cross safely.
Another is to stand in the road- literally the road- even if the flashing red hand is going-walk across anyway, and if there is a car coming then wave it away with your hand (as if this is going to stop a hunk of metal crashing into you) whilst finishing with a run- I saw someone do this- the shock stopped me from getting my camera out in time.

But it has to be said with the traffic rule of it being 'OK to turn right on a red', Car's will not always adhere to giving way to the pedestrians, so you need to kinda stand in their way- I saw a man get nudged by a van the other day..

Messages on the Tube/Subway
London-We have posters that say please mind the gap between the train and the platform or announce 'Mind the gap'
New York- Have a poster that says 'Stay stylish, stay aware.. no matter what your footwear is, step over the gap' such a fashion conscious city, not really warning you of getting mangeled between the train and the platform, but first order of the day is to 'stay stylish ;)'

Bars
London- You sit with you mates and have a few Beers enjoy the evening bantering with your group, get hammered, you go home.
New York- You might start sitting with your mates, then start chatting to the table next to you, then perhaps the whole bar (if right layout) and have a great laugh with total strangers. You'll also add a dollar to every drink you buy to 'tip' the barman to kinda do his job, but on the plus side he'll buy you drinks back if you're at the bar long enough, and that's a nice few free beers..you get hammered, you go home.

I'm sure I'll be adding to this! more pictures to follow..