St Patrick's Day
March 17 · Level 9 · #276 of 2238
St Patrick's Day honours Ireland's patron saint and brings Irish culture into the spotlight around the world. Religious observance shares the occasion with music, dancing and gatherings of friends and families.
How it is celebrated: crowds turn out for parades, musicians play Irish tunes and dancers perform. Green clothes and shamrock decorations are familiar sights, while church services preserve the day's religious roots.
Chicago takes the green theme onto the water by colouring its river for the festivities. The city's river-dyeing tradition began in 1962.