A Brief History of St. Patrick's Day

Festive and Filthy—Looking
Workers have been dying the Chicago River green on St. Patrick's Day since 1962. According to the local parade committee, the river's transformation "ranks right up there with the parting of the sea by Moses and the Pyramids of Egypt." The plumbers union uses vegetable dye to turn the river a toxic—looking shade of green for a few hours every year.

• Colorful Religious Festivals