subject: St. Patrick's Day heralds celebrations across the globe [print this page] St. Patrick's Day heralds celebrations across the globe
Millions of people across the globe adorn themselves in green each March 17th to celebrate the day known all over the world as St. Patrick's Day.
Indeed, many people get involved in the celebrations regardless of whether they have any direct affiliation with Ireland, which is always a sign there will be at least one or two good parties in the neighbourhood, regardless of where that neighbourhood may be.
But many people do have strong ancestral ties with Ireland, none more so than those in the US. Chicago even dyes the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day now that's what you call commitment.
Throw into the equation the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand and you soon realise that St. Patrick's Day is cause for one giant international party.
Uruguay may seem like an unlikely place to celebrate the day of St. Patrick, but in Montevideo and Punta del Este, people dance and drink beer throughout the night until seven or eight in the morning.
But celebrations don't stop there. Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Hungary, Japan, Montserrat, the United Arab Emirates and a number of other countries all celebrate St. Patrick to varying degrees.
However, what better place to celebrate the fantastic day than in the heart of Ireland itself? Dublin is a great city and there's no shortage of things to do there anyway, but on March 17th 2011, expect to see some spectacular parades and events.
You and a bunch of friends could get yourselves some fancy dress costumes and really get involved in the local celebrations. This could be a simple velour St. Patrick's Day hat with ginger beard, or it could be a full-on leprechaun costume. Whatever costume you opt for, and wherever you decide to celebrate it, you can't fail to have a fantastic time.
As a man who is revered globally who, exactly, was St. Patrick? Well, St. Patrick was a Roman Britain-born Christian missionary and, when he was about sixteen, he was captured by Irish raiders and taken from the UK possibly Wales - as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family.
After entering the Church, he later returned to Ireland as a missionary, but not much is known about where he worked. He died on March 17th, at some point in the fifth century, and by about the seventh century he had come to be known as the Patron Saint of Ireland.
It may be over 1500 years since St. Patrick was alive and kicking in Ireland, but his life and work is celebrated in countless countries across the world. Now that's the sign of a true legend.
