Chicago's green river tradition: A dazzling St. Patrick's spectacle
March 17th is celebrated worldwide as St. Patrick's Day. This tradition, which has roots in Ireland, has gained popularity worldwide. It is particularly spectacular in Chicago, where the river is turned green. This year, crowds of onlookers gathered to witness the moment of colouring.
St. Patrick's Day is a national and religious holiday in Ireland, where St. Patrick is the country's patron saint. As a result, this day offers a break from work for the residents of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, and Montserrat.
St. Patrick's Day in Ireland
On this occasion, the Irish typically dress in green, drink beer of the same colour, and consume green foods. Green is not only Ireland's national colour but also symbolizes the famous three-leaf clover associated with St. Patrick.
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day isn't just about wearing green clothing and drinking green beer. Numerous events, such as festivals, parades, and Irish dance performances, attract crowds each year.
They dye the river green
On March 17th, buildings and monuments are often illuminated in green in many cities worldwide. For 63 years, the American city of Chicago has gone further: the river is dyed green.
On Monday, March 17th, at 10 AM Eastern Time, members of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130 set out on the waterway and pumped litres of special dye into it, temporarily transforming it into a lush, emerald-green, shimmering river.
The tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green began by accident. In 1961, Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130 poured a special oil-based fluorescein dye into the river to detect leaks and other irregularities, such as illegal chemical pollution. The head of the plumbers' union, Stephen Bailey, noticed that one of the workers' coveralls had been dyed green by the dye. Since then, dyeing the Chicago River green on St. Patrick's Day has become an annual event.
Importantly, Chicago plumbers stopped using fluorescein in 1966 and switched to a plant-based powder. The powder's effects last only two days, and its low concentration and quick absorption make it non-toxic.
