Hundreds of thousands of people dressed in green took to the streets of Dublin on Monday, to watch Ireland’s national St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Roughly 4,000 people and 12 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and Austria took part in the country’s main parade. Smaller parades also took place in other parts of the country, from Limerick to Cork.

In Northern Ireland, a parade in Belfast city attracted tens of thousands of spectators. Crowds were also full of good cheer in Derry, Downpatrick, Enniskillen, Newry and Ballycastle.

St. Patrick’s Day takes place each year on the 17th of March.

The event stems from a religious holiday commemorating the death of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. Today, the holiday has evolved into a global celebration of all things Irish, with parades, music, dancing, and lots of green.

While Ireland has been celebrating St. Patrick’s day for over 1000 years, the famous parades started in the United States by its Irish diaspora.

The Irish celebration therefore also brought boisterous parades and festivities across the country, including New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Georgia, Minnesota, and Arkansas.

On Saturday, the city of Chicago dyed The Chicago River green, an annual tradition.

The Lithuanian city of Vilnius seemed inspired by the sight of the bright emerald green liquid, and coloured the Vilnelė river green for the occasion, on which a kayak parade took place on Saturday as well.

St. Patrick’s Day is also celebrated annually in the capital, where various events and festivities, including live Irish music and dancing, took place.

In London, the Princess Kate wore her stape forest green coat with a matching percher hat, and sipped half a pint of Guiness as she celebrated St Patrick’s Day with Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks.

The Princess of Wales presented fresh shamrock sprigs and awarded medals to soldiers before the regiment’s parade.

The royal, who missed the Guard’s celebration last year following her cancer diagnosis, has gradually been returning to public duties.