AP PHOTOS: Boston celebrates St. Patrick’s Day; Biden holds White House brunch with Irish leader
AP PHOTOS: Boston celebrates St. Patrick’s Day; Biden holds White House brunch with Irish leader
A person waves an Irish flag while watching the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A person waves an Irish flag while watching the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A group of firemen from around the United States pose for a selfie with spectators while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A group of firemen from around the United States pose for a selfie with spectators while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Members of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Members of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Spectators watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Spectators watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A firefighter greets spectators as they watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A firefighter greets spectators as they watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A man wearing a costume he described as that of St. Patrick, center, walks with a group of firefighters during the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A man wearing a costume he described as that of St. Patrick, center, walks with a group of firefighters during the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
President Joe Biden, left, and Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar arrive at a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
President Joe Biden, left, and Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar arrive at a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, left, and President Joe Biden speak at a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, left, and President Joe Biden speak at a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
A fireman, left, from a group of firemen from around the United States give high fives to people in the crowd while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A fireman, left, from a group of firemen from around the United States give high fives to people in the crowd while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Members of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Members of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Floats and vehicles make their way along the parade route as spectators watch during the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Floats and vehicles make their way along the parade route as spectators watch during the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
People in costume watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
People in costume watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, from left, President Joe Biden and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, arrive at a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, from left, President Joe Biden and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, arrive at a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a St. Patrick’s Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Spectators watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade from a window, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Spectators watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade from a window, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Members of a United State Marine Corps marching band play while participating in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Members of a United State Marine Corps marching band play while participating in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Spectators cheer while watching the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Spectators cheer while watching the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A member of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums wears a feather in his hat with colors from the Irish flag before the Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A member of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums wears a feather in his hat with colors from the Irish flag before the Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
People are blanketed with falling confetti during opening ceremonies for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
People are blanketed with falling confetti during opening ceremonies for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
People celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. This year’s theme was “50 Cheers for 50 Years.” The parade marks one of the first mass gatherings following the deadly shooting at last month’s Super Bowl champion Chiefs rally in Kansas City. (APhoto/Nick Ingram)
People celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. This year’s theme was “50 Cheers for 50 Years.” The parade marks one of the first mass gatherings following the deadly shooting at last month’s Super Bowl champion Chiefs rally in Kansas City. (APhoto/Nick Ingram)
A man on a bicycle greets spectators during the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A man on a bicycle greets spectators during the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Children greet spectators while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Children greet spectators while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A member of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums salutes during the singing of the National Anthem before the Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A member of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums salutes during the singing of the National Anthem before the Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, center, waves to spectators while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, center, waves to spectators while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
CORRECTS NAME OF BAND - Members of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Honor Guard and Band march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The parade marks one of the first mass gatherings following the deadly shooting at the last month’s Super Bowl rally in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Nick Ingram)
CORRECTS NAME OF BAND - Members of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Honor Guard and Band march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The parade marks one of the first mass gatherings following the deadly shooting at the last month’s Super Bowl rally in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Nick Ingram)
BOSTON (AP) — While some American cities celebrated St. Patrick’s Day a day early this weekend, Boston, one of the most Irish cities in the country, held its parades and festivities on Sunday, or March 17.
Crowds of green-clad revelers lined the streets for the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which typically draws about 1 million people. It not only celebrates the city’s Irish heritage but also Evacuation Day, commemorating the evacuation of British troops from Boston during the Revolutionary War.
When Aidan Richardson began attending school in Worcester, Massachusetts, friends insisted they had to attend the Boston parade.
“It’s a great time so far,” said the native of Rochester, New York. “When I grew up I was told I was Irish, then all of the sudden last year I found out I was Scottish. I still love it.”
In Washington, President Joe Biden held a St. Patrick’s Day brunch for Catholic leaders in the East Room on Sunday. The room was decked out for the holiday, with an Irish flag, shamrocks and green and gold tablecloths. Guest seating cards were written in Celtic-looking green lettering.
Ireland’s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, attended the event with his partner, Matthew Barrett.
Biden, a devout Catholic who is exceedingly proud of his Irish heritage, said he was grateful to Varadkar for spending time with him on the holiday, and he thanked the Catholic leaders for their humanitarian work.
“Welcome, everyone, to St. Patrick’s Day at the White House,” Biden told the crowd. The president also hosted a reception later Sunday.
In Boston, other St. Patrick’s Day events were also taking place around the city, including a memorial Mass and a boxing tournament. Long-running Boston punk band Dropkick Murphys was set to play the first of its back-to-back St. Patrick’s Day concerts.
Crowds also lined the streets Sunday for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Kansas City, Missouri, weeks after a rally honoring the Super Bowl champion Chiefs was marred by a deadly shooting.
April Coleman spent Sunday passing out green beads and cavorting family and friends. She acknowledged that the shooting wasn’t completely out of her mind, but she said she didn’t want to live in fear — and skipping the large gathering was out of the question.
“I still want to come out and have fun with good people,” she said.