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50 Shades of Green: St. Patrick's Day in New York
IN PICTURES: St Patrick's Day is celebrated every March 17 in honor of the patron saint of Ireland. Shamrocks, bright-green pints of Guinness and elaborate parades: it's a global celebration of Irish culture – with a generous dose of drinking thrown in.
In New York, Manhattan's Fifth Avenue came alive with the sound of bagpipes, trumpets and drums.
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St Patrick, the son of a deacon and the grandson of a priest, was born not Irish but Scottish.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
However, he is said to have spent years in Ireland converting pagans to Christianity before his death on March 17 in the fifth century.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
At the age of 16, he was kidnapped in his native Scotland by Irish raiders and taken to Gaelic Ireland to work as a slave.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
It was while he was being held captive in Ireland that he learned the ways of the Druids, the people he eventually converted to Christianity.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
St Patrick is believed to have used three three-leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity of God to the pagan Irish.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
At the time of his death on March 17, 461, he was already the subject of many legends and later became the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Cardinal Timothy Dolan and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio attend the St Patrick's Day parade in New York City.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar marches with Governor Cuomo during the St Patrick's Day parade that took over Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
In New York, Manhattan's Fifth Avenue came alive with the sound of bagpipes, trumpets and drums as people marched through the city.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
The Empire State Building is lit green for St. Patrick's day in New York City.
Photo:REUTERS/Jeenah Moon