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I never understood why Savannah, GA has such a large St. Patricks day festival. That city does not have a history of Irish immigration. And the Catholic presence is minimal and is mostly to be found within the city's 5% Hispanic population. That city really doesn't have a history of immigration at all. The vast majority of the people living there, black and white, have had families here since the colonies. Irish people didn't start showing up in large numbers to America until the mid 1800s.
Perhaps there is a large Scots-Irish group there, though. I'm not sure of the cultural connection that the Scots-Irish would have have to a Catholic saint.
I never understood why Savannah, GA has such a large St. Patricks day festival. That city does not have a history of Irish immigration. And the Catholic presence is minimal and is mostly to be found within the city's 5% Hispanic population. That city really doesn't have a history of immigration at all. The vast majority of the people living there, black and white, have had families here since the colonies. Irish people didn't start showing up in large numbers to America until the mid 1800s.
Perhaps there is a large Scots-Irish group there, though. I'm not sure of the cultural connection that the Scots-Irish would have have to a Catholic saint.
It is so large due to tourism and marketing, though there is history behind it. Savannah had some Irish immigration, though it was pretty small, especially compared to the cities of the Northeast and Midwest. Historically it seems its Irish population was similar to a lot of other large Southern cities (Nashville, Mobile, Charleston, Memphis, Houston/Galveston) with New Orleans and Louisville having much bigger populations. The Catholic population seems to follow a similar pattern as this with it being very small in Savannah and most Southern cities (with some notables exceptions). Most US cities have St. Patrick's Day festivities and parades, it just seems Savannah capitalized on it and made it a big event. Also I think St. Patrick is a recognized saint in the Anglican/Episcopal churches and Presbyterian Church (those are the main religions of the UK) and a few other christian denominations, though not sure how much that would have influenced St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
That's probably why the overwhelming majority of Irish immigrants in Savannah are completely assimilated into Southern White culture. Even to this day, one can definitely see the difference in culture between the Irish Americans of the Northeast vs. the Irish Americans of the South.
I never understood why Savannah, GA has such a large St. Patricks day festival. That city does not have a history of Irish immigration. And the Catholic presence is minimal and is mostly to be found within the city's 5% Hispanic population. That city really doesn't have a history of immigration at all. The vast majority of the people living there, black and white, have had families here since the colonies. Irish people didn't start showing up in large numbers to America until the mid 1800s.
Perhaps there is a large Scots-Irish group there, though. I'm not sure of the cultural connection that the Scots-Irish would have have to a Catholic saint.
^^^^ Where the HECK did you come up with that pack of lies in bold above?!?! Savannah has a HUGE white AND black Catholic population -- and has for 150 years! You have absolutely ZERO idea what you're talking about!
As for why the celebration is so huge, it's the exact same reason why Mardis Gras is such a big deal in New Orleans: Savannah is a HUGE tourist city with VERY liberal liquor laws, a laissez-faire party atmosphere, tons of bars and PROMINENT IRISH-CATHOLIC FAMILIES that have lived here for generations.
In short, St. Patrick's Day is BIG BUSINESS in Savannah -- and the city works very hard to make sure it stays that way!
That's probably why the overwhelming majority of Irish immigrants in Savannah are completely assimilated into Southern White culture. Even to this day, one can definitely see the difference in culture between the Irish Americans of the Northeast vs. the Irish Americans of the South.
OH CRY ME A RIVER! The colony of Georgia was founded as a border colony to provide security from the Spaniards in Florida, who were overwhelmingly Catholic. The original ban arose out of fears that sympathetic settlers to the Spanish Catholic cause might threaten the security of the new colony, and it was VERY short lived -- as were the original bans on booze, slavery and lawyers!
OH CRY ME A RIVER! The colony of Georgia was founded as a border colony to provide security from the Spaniards in Florida, who were overwhelmingly Catholic. The original ban arose out of fears that sympathetic settlers to the Spanish Catholic cause might threaten the security of the new colony, and it was VERY short lived -- as were the original bans on booze, slavery and lawyers!
Discrimination by any other name is still discrimination.
^^^^ Where the HECK did you come up with that pack of lies in bold above?!?! Savannah has a HUGE white AND black Catholic population -- and has for 150 years! You have absolutely ZERO idea what you're talking about!
As for why the celebration is so huge, it's the exact same reason why Mardis Gras is such a big deal in New Orleans: Savannah is a HUGE tourist city with VERY liberal liquor laws, a laissez-faire party atmosphere, tons of bars and PROMINENT IRISH-CATHOLIC FAMILIES that have lived here for generations.
In short, St. Patrick's Day is BIG BUSINESS in Savannah -- and the city works very hard to make sure it stays that way!
Straight from your link!
"The total population of the southern part of Georgia is 2,800,000 . Catholics number 77,287."
So of this vast area the Catholic percentage stands at a whopping.....2.7%. Lets be a little crazy and assume all of those Catholics are non-Hispanic and live in the Savannah metro area and it would make Savannah roughly 20% Catholic. That is of course crazy as a large number of those Catholics are Hispanic and a large number of the Catholics live in the other cities of the region.
I'm sure a few Irish did indeed arrive through Savannah's ports but the evidence showing this number was minuscule is quite abundant. So please do not deem what I said to be a pack of lies.
^^^^ Where the HECK did you come up with that pack of lies in bold above?!?! Savannah has a HUGE white AND black Catholic population -- and has for 150 years! You have absolutely ZERO idea what you're talking about!
As for why the celebration is so huge, it's the exact same reason why Mardis Gras is such a big deal in New Orleans: Savannah is a HUGE tourist city with VERY liberal liquor laws, a laissez-faire party atmosphere, tons of bars and PROMINENT IRISH-CATHOLIC FAMILIES that have lived here for generations.
In short, St. Patrick's Day is BIG BUSINESS in Savannah -- and the city works very hard to make sure it stays that way!
He is right that the Catholic population is pretty small, though I don't know about his other statement. It is not surprising that there is a Catholic Archdiocese/Diocese since most cities of a decent size will have one. The data on that website shows how small the Catholic population is.
The difference between Mardi Gras in New Orleans and St. Patrick's Day in Savannah is that New Orleans has the demographics and history that back up why the event is celebrated and is so big. Though, besides that, they do share similarities like you listed.
That's probably why the overwhelming majority of Irish immigrants in Savannah are completely assimilated into Southern White culture. Even to this day, one can definitely see the difference in culture between the Irish Americans of the Northeast vs. the Irish Americans of the South.
Catholicism was illegal in Boston/Massachusetts at one point. Boston is considered the most Irish of US cities.There are other factors that better explain your points like amount of immigration. Archdiocese of Boston History of the Archdiocese of Boston
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