St. Patrick’s Day Around the World

St. Patrick’s day is one of the most widely celebrated saint’s day in the world.  The holiday has become widely associated with green, shamrocks, feasts and parades which begs the question, what is the real meaning of St. Patrick’s Day?  

According to the History.com, Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In the centuries following Patrick’s death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most well known legend is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.     

Since around the ninth or 10th century, people in Ireland have been observing the Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick on March 17. Interestingly, however, the first parade held to honor St. Patrick’s Day took place not in Ireland but in the United States. On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as with fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.

Today, people of all backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, especially throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest parades and productions, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore and Russia. 

 

Check out Twisted Sifter’s list of the top 12 places around the world that go green on March 17th to celebrate St. Patricks Day.  

12. The Empire State Building, New York City, U.S.A.

 

Photograph via Inhabitat.com

 

 

11. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

 

 

 

10. Big Dam Bridge, Arkansas, U.S.A.

 

Big Dam St. Patrick's Day

Photograph by Christian Alexander (ChristianChance on Flickr)

 

 

9. London Eye, London, England

 

 

 

8. The CN Tower, Toronto, Canada

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2010

Photograph by Lionel Caines

 

 

7. Selfridges Department Store, Birmingham, England

 

Selfridges Store @ The Bullring Birmingham England

Photograph by Nala Rewop

 

 

6. Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa

 

Photograph by AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam via The Telegraph

 

 

5. White House Fountain, Washington D.C.

 

Photograph by MichellePictures.com

 

 

4. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

 

Photograph by Mike Young

 

 

3. Michigan/Indiana Border (41 45 32.95 N 86 16 06.19 W)

 

 

The Sifter was not able to find out much about this Google Earth sighting, but you can see it for yourself by inputting the following coordinates into Google Maps or Google Earth: 41 45 32.95 N 86 16 06.19 W

 

 

2. Burj Al Arab, Dubai, U.A.E.

 

Photograph via HauteLiving.com

 

 

1. Chicago River, Chicago, U.S.A.

 

Photograph by Knowledge Seeker

 

Photograph by Mike Boehmer