St. Patrick's Day could be a school holiday in New York beginning next year
As soon as 2017, students in New York City could have St. Patrick's Day as a day off from school. The New York Senate has voted to make March 17 a school holiday, citing both New York's large Irish-American population as well as its iconic Saint Patrick's Day Parade, which has been held every year since 1762.
On St. Patrick's Day, "everybody is Irish," Sen. Tony Avella said. Avella introduced the bill after a member of the Irish Catholic fraternal organization the Ancient Order of Hibernians approached him about it, The Associated Press reports.
Along similar lines, the Chinese Lunar New Year was approved as a school holiday in New York two years ago.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.