By Ola Diab

From leprechauns to parades to green beer, millions of Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day to honor the patron saint of Ireland but also, originally, to promote the worth and dignity of Irish immigrant laborers in 19th century America. It’s a day when everyone celebrates with shamrocks, parades and corned beef and cabbage meals.

But nobody celebrates it like Chicago, which kicks off its own unique celebrations by dying the river that runs through the towering city a bright green.

NU-Q juniors Ashlene Ramadan and Ola Diab, both doing their professional residencies in Chicago this semester, were there for it all.

Official city celebrations in Chicago this year were held on Saturday, March 12 to allow families and workers to attend the parade, which they did in the thousands, and schools, unions and other organizations to participate. But virtually the entire city also celebrated the day officially known the world over as St. Patrick’s Day on the traditional March 17.

More people celebrate the holiday in the U.S. than in Ireland itself