A two-hour procession involving the passage of picturesque platforms on which scenes from the life of the Irish saint will be shown is to begin at 1.p. m. on Novy Arbat in the center of the city, the organizers of the festivities told RIA Novosti.
The most outstanding event of the parade will the Celtic rock- mystery, entitled "The Last Temptation of St. Patrick" where the Celtic harp and the famous Irish bagpipes will sound. Apart from that, the organizers promise an exhibition of Irish pedigree dogs and performances by military brass-bands. Irish ambassador to Russia Justin Hartman and ambassadors of other states will greet the guests and participants of the festivities.
The heroes of the festivities will be the Leprechauns - fairy-tale shoemakers in pointed hats and leather aprons who own a pot of gold. They are believed to show the hiding place of treasure if caught. However, one should bear in mind that these green elfs are mischievous and can easily cheat a gullible treasure seeker.
One is supposed to mark St. Patrick Day in green clothes which should be decorated with stylized trefoil leaves and the Irish flag. It is especially advisable to pin to one 's lapel a bunch of live trefoil leaves, supplied by the Irishmen to every corner of the world on the eve of St. Patrick Day. Another important condition in the festivities is a glass of ale.
The Muscovites started marking St. Patrick Day on March 17. In numerous Moscow Irish pubs festive Celtic discotheques are being held and a folk-festival was held in the Central Artists' House on March 19.
Patrick, who spread Christianity on Emerald Island, died in 461. Since then the grateful Irishmen has been considering him to be their patron. Wisdom and kindness made this saint one of the world's most respected. The parade in honor of St. Patrick will be held in Moscow for the 11th time. It was first held on March 15, 1992, in 1999 the tradition was broken and was revived in 2001.
The Moscow authorities backed the idea of holding the parade, reported the Moscow mayor's office. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has signed respective instructions. In particular, public order protection will be ensured and traffic on Novy Arbat will be temporarily closed.
