Chicago might have a historically large Irish population currently counting down the days to the jubilant St Patrick’s Day celebrations later in March but on the first day of the month the city will honor a different saint across the Irish Sea.
Chicago’s Welsh heritage may play second fiddle to the city’s Irish contingent but tomorrow the city’s tallest tower, and once upon a time the tallest building on the planet, will light up with the colors of the flag of Wales.
According to the Chicago Welsh Tafia Society, the antenna of the nearly 1500-foot Willis Tower, aka Sears Tower to many of us, will light up red, white, and green representing the colors of the patron saint of Wales, St David.
Friday, March 1st, marks the date that the Welsh bishop of Mynyw St David died in the 6th century AD and is consequently today the date of an annual celebration of Welsh heritage.
Every year the Chicago Welsh Tafia Society applies to have one building in the city shine the colors of Wales among the skyline to celebrate and this year they’ve managed to clinch Chicago’s mightiest skyscraper and more.
The Wrigley Building will also once again light up red, white, and green continuing a tradition that it has maintained since St David’s Day in 2009.
The chairman of the Chicago Welsh Tafia Society, David Parry, who is originally from Aberystwyth in Wales but moved to Chicago over 25 years ago in 1998, is a driving force behind the scheme.
“In 2017 I applied to have St David’s Day to be recognized by the Chicago BOMA Building Lighting Program,” said Parry. “We received approval and every year since I’ve been contacting the management companies of various buildings in Chicago.”
Parry and the Chicago Welsh Tafia Society have organized a 21+ celebration in a “quirky speakeasy” in the West Loop this St. David’s Day featuring adult beverages, Welsh cakes, and other snacks.
The Chicago PBS station WTTW Prime will also air a special St. David’s Day lineup of programming tomorrow from 6:30 p.m. onwards.