UNIONIST CULTURE:IT WAS party time yesterday for the unionist community in Belfast as thousands thronged the city centre streets to watch the annual Orange Order parade.
On what was very much a family day out for most of the crowd, people lined the main route from early morning in rows three and four deep, waving Union Jack and Ulster flags.
Countless stalls selling all sorts of memorabilia from hats and scarves to inflatable Disney character balloons added to the carnival atmosphere.
Two particularly popular items appeared to be children’s batons and miniature marching drums, leading to more than one spectator being struck unawares by a flying baton, thrown from the hand of an overexcited youngster practising for his big moment in the parade.
In contrast to the bonfire night on Monday, during which Tricolours were burned in many parts of the city, the atmosphere yesterday morning was much more positive, one mostly of celebration of the Ulster unionist culture.
“It’s the best day of our lives, something that we look forward to all year,” said Angela Barr, who had secured a good roadside spot with her partner and two young sons.
Ms Barr and her family arrived an hour early as had thousands more who were unfolding deck chairs and unpacking lunches long before the march was due to pass.
It seemed odd to see so many, so early after bonfire night, traditionally a big social event in Northern Ireland that stretches into the early morning.
Motivation to leave home in good time was apparently easy to find, however, as the importance of getting the right spot along the parade route was quickly explained.
“We have been 50 years coming to the same spot,” said a member of the Hanvey family from Newtownabbey, six miles outside of Belfast.
They described the Twelfth as their St Patrick’s Day, a community day out that gives them a chance to celebrate their culture and history.
The parade itself maintained that family feel with men, women and children of all ages marching the seven-mile route while waving to neighbours in the crowd.
Aside from the loyal Orange lodges that always form the iconic basis of the march, the parade featured countless marching bands from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Canada.
Despite the monotony of flutes and drums playing for two hours as the parade passed, the crowd rarely stopped cheering, dancing and humming.
The marchers themselves struck an odd balance between being relaxed and at the same time formal, with members of the lodges stepping stiffly in unison, arms swaying together, only for one of the group to break away to “high-five” youngsters standing watching.
Ever present, however, was the awareness that a large part of the community remained absent from yesterday’s celebrations.
“It used not be like that – I remember plenty of Catholics would come in and watch it but after the Troubles the communities really split,” said one man in his 60s who had been coming to Twelfth of July parades since as far back as he could remember.
This factor did not seem to dampen spirits, as most people seemed less concerned with any political message than with having a good time with friends and family.
This was the third year where city centre shops stayed open until 4.30pm, perhaps bringing in more casual observers who may have been tempted to combine viewing the parade with doing a bit of shopping on their holidays.