About St Patrick’s Day 2013

St Patrick’s Day 2013 on March 17th, is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Ireland, Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, “the Day of the Festival of Patrick”). Along with the religious aspects of the Saint’s day, the festival is traditionally celebrated with the wearing of green clothing and shamrocks – the colour and plant associated with St Patrick, and Ireland in general.

The biggest festivities take place in Ireland but St Patrick’s Day is also widely celebrated by Irish ex-pats around the world, with parades, music, and celebrations in pubs across the world, usually accompanied by a pint of Guinness. London has marked the day with public celebrations since 2002.

A few of the Atlas staff members attended last year’s celebration of the Emerald Isle in London. Around 110,000 revellers gathered in Trafalgar Square from about noon on March 17, where traditional and contemporary Irish bands created a festive atmosphere, and food and drink stalls sustained the merrymaking. A parade of floats and marching bands – not to mention the 36-metre-long Puca, a giant inflatable dragon –made its way from Park Lane to the square via Piccadilly, Regent Street, Pall Mall and Whitehall. They thoroughly enjoyed the day and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in attending.

http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/st-patricks-day-in-london

Saint Patrick’s Day or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, “the Day of the Festival of Patrick”) is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland.