A reason to celebrate Crowds watch as floats pass during a St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland. Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to attend St Patrick's Day parades throughout debt-ridden Ireland on Thursday with the traditional celebrations a welcome relief from economic austerity measures. Lucky glassesA spectator gets into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day ahead of the first race on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival, in Gloucestershire, central England. The Cheltenham Festival, jump racing's annual Olympics spread over four glittering days, started on Tuesday. Festive paradeNew York Mayor Michael Bloomberg shares a laugh with the crowd during the 250th annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Thursday in New York City. The parade honors the patron saint of Ireland and marched for the first time in the U.S. on March 17, 1762, fourteen years before the Declaration of Independence. Whitehouse goes greenGreen water comes out from the fountain at the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama was hosting Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny for a St. Patrick's Day celebration. Pipers pipingBagpipers march up Fifth Avenue in New York during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Waiting for the showParade goers celebrate as they watch the St. Patrick's Day parade march up Fifth Avenue in New York City. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated every year by people of Irish descent all around the world. Swiss contingentVisitors from Fribourg, Switzerland, watch as participants march up Fifth Avenue during New York's annual St. Patrick's Day parade. |