365 Squarey Monsters: The Irish Rituals That Helped Shape America

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Starting in the 1820s, millions of Irish immigrants — including some named McCann — came to America in search of a better life. Many faced hardship and discrimination as they tried to build new lives in an unfamiliar and often unwelcoming place.

They took low-paying jobs and returned at night to crowded tenements. But every March 17, they marked the feast of Ireland's patron saint with parades and gatherings that celebrated their heritage and made their presence known.

Over time, those immigrants became part of the fabric of America, and the rituals and traditions they brought spread as well. An annual expression of Irish identity grew into something shared and embraced more widely.

St. Patrick's Day, celebrated on Tuesday this year, now involves millions of Americans gathering for parades, music, and small rituals. For one day each year, people everywhere claim a little Irish heritage. And if you have a name like McCann, you double down!

An Irish name in Queens

Growing up in Queens with my surname — Mac Cana in Gaelic, often translated as "wolf cub" or "young warrior" — I couldn't help but feel pride in my Irish roots. At school, everyone got pinched on St. Patrick's Day if they weren't wearing green. At home, we gathered around the table for corned beef and cabbage.

For many years, we'd hop on the subway and head into Manhattan to watch what had become the most famous St. Patrick's Day parade in the world. Marching up Fifth Avenue, the parade was a showcase for the growing political and cultural influence of Irish Americans in New York and across the country.

Even now, as a dad and granddad, I try to bring my children and grandchildren into the mix. There's never much resistance, as they take pride in their name and heritage, too. It also helps that Cheryl's shamrock-shaped buttercream cookies appear in the weeks leading up to the big day.

At home, we still gather for corned beef and cabbage, along with my wife Marylou's Irish soda bread. In a sign of how traditions evolve, she once forgot a key ingredient and accidentally made it even better.

St. Patrick's full-circle journey

Although my family has always celebrated St. Patrick's Day, I didn't deeply explore my Irish heritage until the 1990s, when I began reading Irish America magazine. It helped people like me fill in the historical gaps and better understand the journeys of our ancestors.

My interest — and perhaps a bit of natural Irish gregariousness — led me to connect with the publication's founder, Patricia Harty. I'm lucky to count her as a friend, and I credit her with encouraging me to track down McCanns who still live on the Emerald Isle.

Along the way, she shared a surprise: In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day was traditionally a quiet religious holiday. Families might attend church and mark the day with a simple meal of bacon or ham. The large-scale celebrations came later, shaped largely by Irish immigrants in the United States.

Today, the celebration has come full circle. Ireland now embraces the holiday with parades and gatherings of its own.

When you spend time in Ireland, it's easy to see the spirit that's traveled so well across the Atlantic. The Irish are proud, sociable, and quick to appreciate good company. They may not have invented green beer, but they certainly know how to celebrate.

Celebrating the melting pot

Whether you're raising a pint of green beer or pinching someone who isn't wearing green, keep in mind that these celebrations and rituals have deep roots in the journeys that shaped this country.

The rituals and traditions immigrants carry often begin as reminders of home. Over time, these customs evolve, connecting us to something larger than ourselves. Eventually, they become part of the culture where new lives are built.

St. Patrick's Day reflects that journey — and how the traditions of immigrants enrich the country we all share.

Sláinte,

In this week's Celebrate Your Story, I speak with Josh Schneps, CEO and co-publisher of Schneps Media, one of the largest community media brands in the New York region. The company began in 1985 when his mother, Vicki Schneps, started a neighborhood newspaper at their Queens dining room table. Today it includes nearly 100 publications and sites serving communities across New York and Florida.

At a time when many local newspapers are disappearing, Schneps Media prints about 600,000 papers each week. But its success isn't just about print. The company has built a broader platform centered on the communities it serves — combining local journalism with events, digital publications, and partnerships with businesses that want to reach people close to home.

Josh also shared how new tools like artificial intelligence are helping his team monitor local conversations and surface story ideas. But he was clear about one thing: Technology may assist the work, but journalism still requires human judgment and responsibility.

Our conversation reminded me that in a world increasingly dominated by global platforms, there is still value in focusing on the communities around us. Local media can still play a powerful role in bringing people together.

In this week's Power & Impact, I sat down with venture capitalist Maria Palma. I was struck by the range of her journey — from growing up in Wisconsin to Harvard Business School, leadership training at GE, and startup work across the globe. Today, she invests in some of the most promising AI-driven companies.

While many frame AI as a tool for efficiency, Maria sees a bigger opportunity: entirely new capabilities, businesses, and creative frontiers. She's already watching children use AI to launch projects — even small businesses — offering a glimpse of how much the next generation may reshape the world.

We also discussed what she looks for in founders: independent thinking, comfort with ambiguity, and "resource magnetism" — the ability to attract talent and momentum. The best builders, she believes, are driven to create whether or not anyone is watching.

Our conversation covered leadership, entrepreneurship, robotics, education, and the future of work. If you're curious about where technology — and opportunity — are heading, this episode is worth your time.

50 Years In: A St. Patrick's Day lesson

As 1-800-Flowers.com marks its 50th anniversary, I've found myself thinking less about milestones and more about moments — the human ones that explain why our story is still being written. Here's a story about the day I discovered that having an Irish name doesn't mean you're ready for St. Patrick's Day in the flower business.

You'd think someone with the name McCann would be ready for St. Patrick's Day.

Early in my career as a florist, though, I learned that heritage alone doesn't prepare you for the realities of the business. One year at our shop in Kew Gardens, we thought we had ordered plenty for the holiday — green bouquets, green boutonnieres, and other seasonal touches.

By mid-morning on St. Patrick's Day, much of it was gone.

Customers were also asking for something we hadn't fully anticipated: small potted shamrock plants. People would buy them by the case to bring to the office and hand out to coworkers. Before long, those were gone too.

It was a good early lesson. Holidays have a way of concentrating demand into a very short window. And if you're a florist — even one with an Irish name — you learn quickly that when people decide it's time to celebrate, they all seem to decide at once.

Today, there's still time before St. Patrick's Day — and plenty in stock!

An evening of style and purpose

This week, BOSS SoHo is hosting a special evening on March 19 to celebrate the launch of its new seasonal collection — and to support an important cause. Guests can explore the latest styles, enjoy exclusive offers, and spend time together in one of New York's most vibrant neighborhoods.

Even better, 10% of the evening's net sales will be donated to Smile Farms. The donation will help create create meaningful employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. If you're in the area, I hope you'll stop by and join us for an evening of style and purpose.

Support Smile Farms with your vote

I'm also excited to share that Smile Farms has been selected as a finalist for the Fan Favorite Award at the 14th annual Imagine Awards, and the winner is determined entirely by public vote. The award includes a $3,000 prize that would help expand Smile Farms' programs.

Voting is open through March 31, and supporters can vote once per day for each email address. To participate, visit this site, select Smile Farms, enter your name and email, and click Submit (email addresses will not be stored or used for contact)

Every vote helps strengthen a community grounded in opportunity, dignity, and purpose.

Sunday, March 15, 2026

The Irish Rituals That Helped Shape America

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