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From Dublin to Tokyo, streets across the world have filled with revellers dressed in green over the past few days, as people gather to celebrate St Patrick’s Day .
The occasion is named after the missionary who introduced Christianity to Ireland, who is believed to have died on 17 March. The day has been a saint’s feast day since 1631.
In the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, St Patrick's Day is a public holiday, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to watch the traditional parade in the Irish capital of Dublin at midday today.
Show all 26 1 /26St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Dublin Government buildings in Dublin are illuminated in green to mark St Patrick's Day.
Brian Lawless/PA Wire
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London The effigy of Saint Patrick is carried at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in London on 15 March 2015. St. Patrick's Day honours the first Christian missionary in Ireland.
EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London A man wears a ginger wig and Irish flag glasses during the St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival.
Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London Members of the 'Kentstown and Seneschalstown Accordion Marching Band' participate in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London The London Eye is lit green to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
Matt Alexander/PA Wire
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London A woman looks out of the window of a London bus that is decorated with Irish flags while participating in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in London.
EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London Members of an Irish dance group wait to participate in the St Patrick's Day Parade.
EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London Children from Enniscorthy, Ireland, take part in the festivities.
Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London A woman in a fancy dress takes part in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London A woman waves an Irish flag.
Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures London A woman dressed as a leprechaun, a fairy type in Irish folklore, waves from a London bus.
EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Glasgow Glasgow's SSE Hydro Arena is illuminated green. It is among more than 100 international landmarks turning green to mark St Patrick's Day.
Chris James/PA Wire
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Edinburgh Green lights are shone against Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.
Gareth Easton/PA Wire
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Brazil The Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro is illuminated in green to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day.
AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBAYASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Tokyo People wearing green march during a St. Patrick's Day parade in Tokyo on 15 March, 2015.
AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Tokyo More than 1,000 people took part in the parade in the Japanese capital.
AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Tokyo Members of the Irish Setters Club and their dogs take part in a St. Patrick's Day parade.
AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGIKAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Boston The colour guard for LGBT veterans group OutVets marches down Broadway during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Bostonon 15 March 2015. For the first time in the 114-year history of Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade, LGBT rights activists marched openly under rainbow banners after organizers lifted a longtime ban.
REUTERS/Dominick Reuter
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Boston Members of OutVets, a group of gay military veterans, hold a banner and flags as they march in the St. Patrick's Day parade.
AP Photo/Steven Senne
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Atlanta A group of Irish dancers perform for revellers.
EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Atlanta Margaret Sutherland holds her cat Oliver Underfoot during the 133rd Atlanta St Patrick's Parade in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 14 March 2015. The parade dates back to 1858, one of the oldest in the United States. Saint Patrick's Day celebrates Ireland's patron saint on the anniversary of his death, 17 March, in the fifth century.
EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Atlanta A Pomeranian dog is pulled along during the parade.
EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Seattle A green-clad runner takes part in the annual St. Patrick's Day Dash to benefit the Detlef Schrempf Foundation on Sunday, 15 March.
AP Photo/seattlepi.com, Jordan Stead
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Savannah Chris Mitchum, left, and Joe Padgett, right battle over beads tossed from a balcony during the start of a four-day St. Patrick's Day celebration on 14 March 2015, on River Street in Savannah, Georgia, US.
AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Savannah Dressed as a leprechaun Jackie Robinson, of Atlanta, waves to friends as she walking along River Street during the start of a four-day St. Patrick's Day celebration.
AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton
St Patrick's Day 2015 celebrations around the world - In pictures Sydney A man celebrates St Patrick's Day at The Hero of Waterloo pub in the Australian city.
Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
But the rest of the world can’t resist getting involved with celebrations, and parades and parties are held across the globe.
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