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What Makes the Best Saint Patrick’s Day Float? Vanier Alumni 

What Makes the Best Saint Patrick’s Day Float?

Spring is coming. Snow is melting. Rain hasn’t rained yet. March 18 was the perfect weather for the 195th Saint Patrick’s Day parade, a tradition of the multicultural city of Montreal. Remembering my elementary school friend from Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, who has an Irish background, I was so prepped up to make my way to the parade that sunny Sunday, in mid-March.

Having a strong attachment to music, especially music that makes one dance, I stood by the Party Expert banner, which I thought was supposedly the starter float. Well, to my surprise, I was mistaken.

Then, as a passer-by explained to me that the parade usually starts a little late, I stationed close to the musical float, decorated by beer bottles, and Irish clovers, some with three leaves, and of course, some with four leaves, which are told in myths to bring one luck.

Now, what makes that Saint Patrick’s Day float the best Saint Patrick’s Day float?

First of all, it broadcasted non-stop music. Human beings are drawn to sounds and music. Knowing that Saint Patrick’s Day originates from Ireland, the first criteria for a good one is dancing that makes you tap your toes! In case you didn’t know, traditional Irish dance is about tapping the toes with clacking shoes and jumping up and down as the music flows. Never forget the arms that go right-angled and are shoulder-lengthed. One should definitely google “Irish dance”, to get a visual understanding of Irish dance, full of vibrancy, full of taps and rich in team spirit.

As I was saying, the above-mentioned float, the music-breaking one, was the best float of the parade. Not only was its music the unique selling point (abbreviated as USP, in marketing terms), but its green-themed decoration was the second aspect to its USP as well. There is a story to its green theme. According to an article by Olivia B. Waxman, which appeared on www.time.com on March 16, 2017, “the Emerald Isle and the color green are linked because of the country’s verdant landscape, but the association actually traces its roots to Irish political history.”

Oh, as I end my article, let me tell you one last thing: the secret to this Saint Patrick’s Day float is not only its make-you-feel-like-tiptoeing-music and its green-themed decorations that make it “the” float of the day. There is more to it: the lively Irish woman who danced, jived and busted a groove as her float floated along Maisonneuve Boulevard.

What more to ask for than to dance along the green-hooded dancer, as she tip-toed the Irish way?

If you have missed this year’s parade, fear not. Next year’s going to be another one. The 196th one.

 

Written by: Yvonne Y.F. Kelle

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