http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day Explore St. Patrick's Day celebrations around the world, from the parades in Dublin and Boston to green rivers in Chicago and folk dancing in Moscow. en Copyright 2013, History.com Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT History.com 2013-05-23T04:00:00Z en Copyright 2013, History.com http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo1 A St. Patrick's Day greeting card with the words "Erin Go Bragh" (Ireland forever) in the bottom right corner. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo1 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo2 The patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick converted the Irish to Christianity in the mid-5th century AD. Many exaggerated stories surround this mysterious figure, including the claim that he rid Ireland of snakes. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo2 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo3 A Saint Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland in 2008. The holiday is celebrated on March 17th all over the world. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo3 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo4 A parade float rides through the streets of South Boston, Massachusetts on St. Patrick's Day, 1973. The city has been celebrating the holiday with music and revelry since 1737. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo4 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo5 Workers in March, 2006 dye the Chicago River green as part of the city's annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. Although blue was the color originally associated with St. Patrick, green is now the predominant color of the celebration. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo5 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo6 The floodlights on the Empire State Building in New York City shine green for St. Patrick's Day. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo6 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo7 Approximately 75,000 people marched in this St. Patrick's Day parade down New York City's Fifth Avenue in 1939. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo7 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo8 A man clad in Irish-themed pins watches the 243rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City in 2004. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo8 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo9 Dancers wearing Irish skirts perform at a St. Patrick's Day parade in Moscow, Russia, March 22, 2009. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo9 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo10 U.S. President Barack Obama is presented with a bowl of shamrocks by Irish politician Brian Cowen on St. Patrick's Day, 2009. Shamrocks traditionally symbolize the rebirth of spring. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo10 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo11 Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick's Day dish. About 41.5 billion pounds of U.S. beef and 2.6 billion pounds of U.S. cabbage were sold in 2007 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo11 http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo12 A little girl makes her way up 5th Avenue during the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City, 2004. http://www.history.com/photos/st-patricks-day/photo12