A Brief History of St. Patrick's Day

Slainte!
St. Patrick's Day celebrations are a huge annual boon for Irish bars like McSorley's Pub (above) in New York City, which opens and fills up at 8 a.m. on March 17 every year. Until the 1970s, pubs in Ireland were required by law to close on March 17. These days, St. Patrick's Day is a sure bet for bar owners across Ireland and the U.S. — some even dye their beer green in celebration.

• Colorful Religious Festivals