Images: #TBT Gallery celebrates St. Patrick's Day in suburbs, city
Celebrations, parade revelers, leprechauns, politicians and a river dyed green mark the coming of St. Patrick's Day in this week's #TBT Gallery.
March 17, 461 A.D., is the date of the death of the foremost saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, and what has grown to become a cultural and religious celebration.
To celebrate the day, you'll often see people wearing shamrocks and decked out in their green shirts, hats and jewelry.
It has been said that Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy trinity.
The Chicago River has been dyed green by Chicago Journeymen Plumbers for more than 40 years.
In 1961, they discovered that the green dye used by plumbers to detect leaks was the exact perfect color.
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A group of people prepare to walk in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago in 1989.
Daily Herald file photo/Bob Chwedyk
Crowded city streets dot the route of the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1986.
Daily Herald file photo
Harold Washington walks in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1986. Washington became the 51st Mayor of Chicago in February 1983. He was the first African-American to serve as Mayor of Chicago, in office from April 29, 1983 until his death on November 25, 1987.
Daily Herald file photo
St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1986.
Daily Herald file photo
Former Mayor Jane Byrne walks in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1987. Byrne was the 50th Mayor of Chicago from April 16, 1979 to April 29, 1983. She was the first and only female mayor of Chicago,
Daily Herald file photo
Bagpipes could be heard loudly and proudly along the city streets during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1987.
Daily Herald file photo
A large bunny greets people during a St. Patrick's Day party at Clearwater in Rolling Meadows in 1986.
Daily Herald file photo
St. Patrick's Day party at Clearwater in Rolling Meadows in 1986.
Daily Herald file photo
Donning a small green hat, a horse is ready St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1986.
Daily Herald file photo
Harold Washington waves to the crowd during St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1986.
Daily Herald file photo
Mayor Harold Washington waves to the crowd during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1987. Washington was the 51st Mayor of Chicago in February 1983. He was the first African-American to serve as Mayor of Chicago, in office from April 29, 1983 until his death on November 25, 1987.
Daily Herald file photo
A boat races down the Chicago River turning it green before St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1987. For many years, the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers turn the Chicago River green for the St. Patrick's Day Parade celebration.
Daily Herald file photo
A boat races down the Chicago River turning the river green before the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago 1987. In 1961 Stephen Bailey was approached by a plumber who was wearing some white coveralls, they knew this only because they could see some of the original color. These coveralls had been mostly stained or dyed a perfect shade of green, an Irish green to better describe it. It was when Stephen Bailey asked how the coveralls got this way, that they discovered that the dye used to detect leaks into the river turned green, not just any color green, but the perfect color green.
Daily Herald file photo
A crowd assembles during St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago in 1989.
Daily Herald file photo/Bob Chwedyk
Children are all bundled up for a cold St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago in 1989.
Daily Herald file photo/Bob Chwedyk
Wet weather couldn't put a damper on this St. Patrick's Day parade in Hoffman Estates in 1990
Daily Herald file photo/Joe Lewnard
Wet weather couldn't put a damper on this St. Patrick's Day parade in Hoffman Estates in 1990
Daily Herald file photo/Joe Lewnard
A look back at a St. Patrick's Day luncheon in Wheeling at the Senior Pavilion Center on March 8, 1990.
Daily Herald file photo
A look back at a St. Patrick's Day luncheon in Wheeling at the Senior Pavilion Center on March 8, 1990.
Daily Herald file photo
Mayor Richard M. Daley waves to the crowd as he walks in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago in 1989. Daley was elected mayor in 1989 and was re-elected five times until declining to run for a seventh term. At 22 years, he was the longest-serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his father, Richard J. Daley.
Daily Herald file photo/Bob Chwedyk
A band marches in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Hoffman Estates in 1990
Daily Herald file photo/Joe Lewnard
St. Patrick's Day parade in Hoffman Estates in 1992 included 40 floats and entries including the NIU marching band.
Daily Herald file photo
St. Patrick's Day parade in Hoffman Estates in 1992 included 40 floats and entries including the NIU marching band.
Daily Herald file photo
Miss Hoffman Estates rides a float in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Hoffman Estates in 1992 included 40 floats and entries including the NIU marching band.
Daily Herald file photo
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