Saint-Patrick's parade, march 20th, 2020
by Philippe Fines
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Do you know what traditional activity in Montreal had to be cancelled the first in 2020 because of the pandemics? It is Saint-Patrick’s parade. Imagine! This parade, which had taken place without interruption since its beginning in 1824, which came back every year despite wars and depressions, was struck down by the coronavirus, this planetary enemy. Last Sunday (March 20th), that same parade was the first traditional activity to be back in 2022.
I attended that parade. Everything was magical: the nice weather, contrasting with the huge rain of the day before; top hats; very young dancers who did so well those complicated steps of Irish dance; many Irish flags, etc. Then, without warning, it came: the emotion! Tears of joy on my cheeks, that yelled in unison: FINALLY! Finally the parade, finally joy in the streets, finally jubilation by people. This parade, which clamed vigorously and with relief that things were getting back to normal, became for me the official end of the pandemics!
No, nothing will be exactly like it was before, but we can FINALLY redo what we did before: walk in the streets, feel joy, relive hope, think about future without fear.
Thank you, Saint-Patrick!