Happy St. Patrick's Day!

No, we're not talking about Patrick Swayze (although the jury is out on whether or not he should have a day made in his honor). We are talking about St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Believe it or not, he was not actually Irish. In the 4th century he was born in Roman Britain and is believed to have brought Christianity to Ireland. When he was 16, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. He did escape though, but returned to Ireland years later to spread Christianity.

During the patron saint's life, he became a priest and founded churches, schools and monasteries, before he passed away in 461 A.D on March 17.

Several legends became popularized hundreds of years after his death, including a legend that tells how he chased all the snakes out of Ireland.

Today, Ireland celebrates his day on the 17th of March each year. As the feast day of Saint Patrick, this day was and still is a holy day in Christianity.

In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday and it is celebrated with a lot of pomp and ceremony. The day is usually marked by a parade in the Irish capital, Dublin. The parade has a carnival-like atmosphere and typically features floats, bands and performers. There is also a large street party in the Temple Bar district which goes into the early hours of the morning.

In US cities such as Boston and New York, St. Patrick's Day is also celebrated with gusto. In Boston, the day is typically marked by a parade (the second largest in the USA after Mardi Gras), as well as pub crawls, parties, and lots of green attire.

Wearing green has become synonymous with St. Patrick's Day but why green? Well, there are a few reasons.

Firstly, green is one of the colors in the Irish flag. Wearing green shows pride in being Irish or of Irish descent.

Secondly, according to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to pagan Irish people (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The shamrock then became a symbol of Ireland and wearing it on St. Patrick's Day was thought to bring good luck.

If you are heading to Dublin to enjoy not only the sights but also to celebrate this special day, here are just a few of the things that you should look out for.

• The St. Patrick's Day parade will take place on the 17th of March.
• There will be a street party in Temple Bar district on the 16th of March.
• The Bloomsday festival, which celebrates the life of James Joyce, will take place from the 11th to the 17th of June.

Dublin becomes a hive of activity over this time, so make sure you have your trip planned out. If you haven't booked your flights to DublinLink opens in a new tab and your accommodation, it's best you do so sooner rather than later.

If you are in Boston for St Patrick's Day, there is certainly no shortage of things to do. The parade, which is the second largest in the USA after Mardi Gras as we already mentioned, will take place on the 20th of March. If you're looking for a party atmosphere, be sure to check it out.

Here are a few other events you need to look out for:

• The Shamrock Run will take place on the 18th of March
• There will be a pub crawl in Faneuil Hall on the 17th of March
• There will be several other pub crawls you can look out for

If you're wondering why everyone is drinking green beer on St. Patrick's Day, the answer is actually quite simple. It's because it's festive and fun. Green beer is simply beer that has been tinted green with food dye or green food coloring. Some people believe that the green coloring wards off evil spirits, but we won't go there.

So, if you're looking for a way to join in on the celebrations, why not try drinking green beer? You can either make it yourself or buy it from your local liquor store or bar. Whether you are a fan of lager, weiss, pilsner, or stout, you'll be sure to find one that you can enjoy and join in the celebrations.

Here are seven facts you may not know about St. Patrick's Day:

1.    St. Patrick was born in Britain to a wealthy family.

2.    The color associated with St. Patrick's Day was originally blue, not green.

3.    When it comes to the legend about St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland, there have never been any snakes in Ireland.

4.    The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in New York City, not Dublin.

5.    The shamrock is not native to Ireland and was actually introduced by the Celts.

6.    St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.

7.    In Chicago, the river has been dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick

Now that you know a bit more about St. Patrick's Day and what it entails, it's time to start planning your trip to Dublin. Dublin is the perfect place to celebrate this special day and to soak in the atmosphere.

If you are looking to be enveloped in the festivities in Dublin over St. Patrick's Day, then we've got you covered. Head to www.flyplay.comLink opens in a new tab to book your low-cost flight to DublinLink opens in a new tab or many other locations.

Fly to Dublin on a budgetLink opens in a new tab today.