Snakes in the parade banned from Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day march

I think they have no idea what's up. How could it insult St. Patrick to ban snakes? Duh, he chased them out, but do they not know that the snakes are symbolic only and stand for pagan nonbelievers in Christ. So maybe they'd be better off banning pagan non-believers. I would be afraid that the snakes would be in danger from the drunk people and not vice versa. Bringing animals anywhere there are drunk humans is animal abuse. So there.

IrelandNorth, Hillbillies are a group of settlers who went west into the Appalachian Mountains. They tended to live in isolated settlements. in the 1930s, the government forced many of them out when it built the Blue Ridge Parkway along the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I think you are talking about Dukes of Hazzard Southerners. The South was slower to industrialized than the North, because it lost the Civil War and summers was too hot and humid before the advent of air conditioning in the 1950s. Today,from the Carolinas to Florida and the Gulf (think climate like Spain) there are so many "Come-Here's" that it is rare to meet a person whose family has been here for generations.

Interesting that Savanah, Georgia is largest USA parade after NYC. Thought most 'Irish' emigrants to the deep south were protestant Ulster-Scot planter stock who went on to become Confederate rebels in the American Civil War, 1968 (aka 'Hill Billies'). Here in Dublin, Ireland last year, they had a live Boa Constrictor on display around someones neck in the ILAC shopping centre. Wondered about the advisability of it, since many kids were coming up and touching it, etc. Incidentally, the snake metaphor is a phallic symbol, in that St. Patrick was sent by Rome to repress native Irish (tantric) sexuality associated with indigenous pagan Celtic Druidism. With the scandal of clerical child sexual abuse in Ireland and USA of late, it's opportune to reintroduce reptiles into Ireland, (along with a steady supply of viagra).

pounder as per your info,to thank you I would like to send you my book about St.Patrick-Search for the Bachall Iosa (St.Patricks staff)If you would forward your name &Address to murphmt@gmail.com If you wish info on book go to michaelthomaspatrickmurphy.com

We live about 25 miles from Savannah over the border in SC. If you are Irish, You need to put the Sav. St. Pat's parade on your bucket list. Worth seeing if only just for that one time. Plan to go this year, much easier when it falls on a Saturday. Just as a word of caution after the parade is over and the sun starts to go down...the "wee people" start to appear! By that I mean....a wee bit drunk!!!!

No snakes available as they are all in Leinster house

GOOD for them....snakes should NOT be part of the celebration. alisa

Won't the snakes just run away when St. Patrick comes??

mhichil if we banned em from political office-who would run our great countries? hmmmm,not so bad of an idea.Mother Irish San Antonio let their parade go over $12,000 Hell I've raised that in a night-check my below post-I'm seriously thinking of making myself available to raise funds!

Is this supposed to be another outrageous insult to Irish-Americans?

A great dane I can see easily. A python not so much. A great dane gets loose you can find it, a python, will slither under a warm rock or into a purse or what ever it can. Why bring any animal to a parade - all can be unpredictable and owners even more so. Who wants to step into dog poop? As to the other cities, are those of you complaining doing any of the funding? These parades cost money to run and most of the units pay to be in them. I know my Corvette club pays to be in Atlanta's parade. Think about the police, the city maintenece workers the office staff and coordinators these cities have to pay to have a parade. Savannah is lucky as it draws lots of out of towners who spend like crazy. Other parade cities have locals who come, spend little and go back to their local neighbor hoods. Don't condemn them with out a bit of though first. Snakes on the other hand are not my cup of Guinness.

and so while we are banning reptiles, lets remove them from political office and banking as well

My sister lives in Savannah, GA and I have yet to make it down for St. Pat's. She and her grown children always have Facebook evidence of what great craic is had by all. While I again won't make it this year, it is on next year's vacation calendar, along with other siblings. For those who have never been to Savannah, the weather is best in March and April, before starting to heat up in May. The bars are plentiful, as well as generous, welcoming people.

Thank you Pounder ,Always wondered about the great things I heard about Savannah St.Pat's -now it's on me bucket list.And PhlutiePhan your response has a certain resonance to it,thank you as well.I have actually thought of marketing myself to some of those cities to raise funds for their parades as that seems to be much of the issue of cancellations!

There is a large Irish/Catholic population in Savannah,indeed there a number of Catholic churchs,including a Cathedral(St.Johns).Irish names adorn the shop fronts,and Savannah was a port of entry for many Irish.My parents were married in Savannah at the church of The Blessed Sacrament,and we had a special mass said in their memory on their wedding anniversity.The parade is not anything like NY,and the NYPD is BANNED.Weekend long fesivities may have something to do with the banning.Small as a city but a wonderful town to visit,any time of the year.