The feast day known as St. Patrick’s Day began in the 17th century to honor the man who brought Christianity to Ireland. But over the years the March 17 has turned into a day of green, parades, food, and fun that reaches all corners of the globe.

Parades in America started in New York in 1762 when Irish immigrants came to the country due to the potato famine. Since then New York has continued to host the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the US with around two million spectators crowding 5th Avenue. Chicago and Boston also have a large audience estimating around one million.

While the parades are going on in the streets, Irish pubs prepare copious amounts of corn beef and cabbage. The traditional Irish dish is made with a brisket cut of meat and is served with soda bread, another classic Irish dish. Shepard’s Pie and green dyed beverages are also commonly sold items on the holiday.

Beverages aren’t the only thing turned green on March 17. Dying the Chicago River green has been an American tradition for the past 52 years and has been the inspiration for many other countries to add a little color to their most famous landmarks. The Land Down Under lights up the Sydney Opera house and the Italians illuminate the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Two of the newest places to find green are Table Mountain in South Africa and the White House fountains, thanks to Chicago native Michelle Obama.

Shamrocks and leprechauns are two symbols most commonly associated with the holiday but today contain different meanings than their original Irish roots. St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the people of Ireland in the 400s and the citizens began to wear them to show their Christian pride and over time began to believe that wearing them brought them luck and the superstition stuck. As for leprechauns, the stereotypical mischievous creatures were popularized by American political cartoons that were based on the undesirable folklore character. Over time more stories were made up about the child-sized shoemaker and now they are known to wear buckled shoes and keep gold in a pot at the end of the rainbow.

Even if you aren’t in a city that has big parade or a multitude of Irish pubs you can still show your festive side by grabbing your favorite green shirt and a bowl of Lucky Charms.