"The First St. Patrick’s Day Parade Was Held in America:
While people in Ireland had celebrated St. Patrick since the 1600s, the tradition of a St. Patrick’s Day parade began in America and actually predates the founding of the United States. Records show that a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. The parade, and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration a year earlier were organized by the Spanish Colony's Irish vicar Ricardo Artur. More than a century later, homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in Boston in 1737 and in New York City on March 17. Enthusiasm for the St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York City, Boston and other early American cities only grew from there. "
www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-facts

This holiday was never celebrated in my house. I understand what it is about and the fact that Irish people eat corn beef and cabbage. It was a poor mans meal for the Irish American immigrants. The holiday celebrates St. Patrick and what he did for Ireland. It was really just a day I remember as an excuse for people to get drunk.