U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 17

WASHINGTON, March 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17: ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Profile America — Wednesday, March 17th.  This is a day to check your closet and make sure you wear something green — it's St. Patrick's Day, said to be the only national holiday observed outside its native land.  The observance honors Bishop Patrick, born in England, who brought Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, using a shamrock to illustrate divinity.  The day has been marked in America since it was a colony.  New York City's huge parade has taken place every year since 1762.  The greatest number of Irish immigrants arrived in the U.S. in the middle of the 19th century, when the home country was reeling from the potato famine.  Now, just under 36.5 million Americans claim Irish descent — almost eight times the population of Ireland itself.  Profile America is in its 13th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 154

U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB10-FF.04

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau