St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago
Happy St. Patricks Day! Chicago is known for hosting one of the largest St. Patricks Day celebrations in the world. In 2020, Chicago was named the best city in the United States to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day according to a study done by WalletHub which took the four dimensions of St. Patrick’s Day Traditions, Costs, Safety & Accessibility and St. Patrick’s Day Weather into consideration. The Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade started in 1843 by victims of British discrimination, and has since grown into a multi-ethnic celebration for all Chicagoans. Despite this year’s river dyeing and parade being delayed due to the CVOID-19 pandemic, we wanted to briefly explain the history behind the renowned river dyeing that occurs on St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago.
When Richard J. Daley first took office as the Mayor of Chicago, he was on a mission to clean up the polluted Chicago River. In order to pinpoint the location of waste in the river and who was responsible for dumping it, a special green dye was put in the water to track the leaky pipes and dumping sites. Stephen Bailey, a friend of Daley, had the original idea to turn the entire river green on St. Patricks Day after he saw a member of Plumbers Local’s overalls dyed green from working with the pipes and river dumping.
The first time this was attempted was in 1961, 100 lbs of chemicals were poured into the Chicago River, which kept the river green for an entire week. In 1962, dying the river green became an annual tradition for St. Patrick’s Day, and after 2 years, it was observed that 25 lbs of dye was the perfect amount to keep the river green for one day. According to Chicago Magazine, in 1965, Bailey proposed painting Wrigley Field green for St. Patrick’s Day as well. This proposal, however, was quickly shut down.
The original dye formula was damaging the river, so after lobbying from environmentalists to find a more eco-friendly alternative, a new powdered, vegetable-based dye became the new dye for the Chicago River. The powder is orange and becomes green when mixed with the water. This color pairing is fitting as it matches the flag of Ireland. The powdered dye is called “leprechaun dust,” and the exact formula is a closely held secret. According to the Chicago Tribune, the Plumber Locals 130 union has been the official sponsor of the St. Patrick’s Day parade since 1962. Additionally, two Chicago families, the Rowans and the Butlers have been dyeing the river since the tradition started.
We wish everyone the luck of the Irish during St. Patrick’s Day. If you happen to be unlucky this March, as accidents do sometimes occur due to the fault of others, you or your family members deserve to be compensated. If you or your family member have been injured due to someone else’s negligence or reckless or illegal conduct, contact our office today for a free initial consultation and a complete analysis of the circumstances. Our lawyers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including St. Patrick’s Day!
