2 NJ Cities Rank Among Nation's Best To Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

NEW JERSEY — With St. Patrick's Day rapidly approaching Sunday, two New Jersey cities could be added to your itinerary as they were named among the best places to celebrate the popular Irish holiday.

Personal-finance website WalletHub released on March 6 its Best Cities to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day, with Jersey City peaking at No. 104 among the top 200.

The cities on the best list were scored out of 100 points based on their rankings in the following categories: St. Patrick's Day traditions, St. Patrick's Day weather, safety and accessibility and costs.

“St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the Irish, but it’s become a beloved cultural holiday for millions of Americans regardless of their ancestry," WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said in a news release. "The best cities for St. Patrick’s Day combine rich traditions with tasty and affordable food, safe conditions to celebrate and good weather. Celebrating in one of these cities will increase your chances of having a memorable holiday, as long as you don’t overdo it.”

See how New Jersey cities fared on the top 200 list:

• Jersey City, rank No. 104, total score of 47.32
• Newark, No. 178, total score of 40.43

St. Patrick's Day is traditionally observed on March 17 in recognition of the missionary Saint Patrick, the primary patron saint of Ireland who was born in Great Britain.

Those who celebrate the Irish holiday usually paint the town green, a color that "originated as a symbol of rebellious Irish nationalism," the History Channel said. A myth states that people who wear green become invisible to leprechauns while anyone caught not wearing green may be subject to the leprechaun's pinch.

Though modern-day St. Augustine, Florida, was home to the earliest recorded St. Patrick's parade in 1601, New York's parade is deemed the oldest and largest as it travels along over a mile up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

>> See WalletHub's full report here.