The "Marching Season" denotes the mid-summer period in which the Protestant Orange Order holds a number of parades to commemorate seventeenth-century Protestant victories over Catholics. Although some of these parades have been held for over a hundred years, the demographics of Northern Ireland have changed considerably. Parade routes which once wound down country lanes or through solidly Protestant neighborhoods now traverse Catholic housing estates, where the marchers are not welcome. Members of the Orange Order and fellow travelers argue that the parades are simply an expression of their cultural heritage, but Catholics, especially Nationalists, counter that they constitute sectarian triumphalism. Eager to spur on the peace process in Northern Ireland, the British government in recent years has instituted a number of compromise measures and has even banned certain portions of marches. The latest outbreak of violence and civil unrest, the worst in several years, was precipitated by the Parade Commision's decision to once again order members of the Loyal Orange Lodge of Portadown to re-route their parade, held this Sunday, which traditionally passes through the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road after services at the Drumcree Parish Church. For the past five nights Protestant youths in Belfast and Drumcree have clashed with the police, throwing stones, gasoline bombs, and fireworks. As a result, the Northern Ireland Army is patrolling the streets of Belfast for the first time in two years and water cannons were used against protestors for the first time in decades. Tensions will likely rise through the weekend to July 12, the highpoint of the marching season and the anniversary of William of Orange's victory over the Catholic King James II in 1690. The protests and violence demonstrate resentment in some circles at recent decisions to ban marches, but they are also a reflection of popular distate or opposition to the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland among sectors of the Loyalist population. While the parade protests will likely die down in a week or so, this opposition will not. The impact of both on the peace process remains to be seen.