St Patrick's Day celebrations across the world - in pictures

The Chicago River is currently running green

Alex Nowakowska left, and Joanna Puchlik right, both from Chicago, take a selfie after the Chicago River is dyed green for St. Patrick's Day. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

From Dublin to Tokyo, streets across the world have filled with revellers dressed in green over the past few days, as people gather to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.

The occasion is named after the missionary who introduced Christianity to Ireland, who is believed to have died on 17 March. The day has been a saint’s feast day since 1631.

In the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, St Patrick's Day is a public holiday, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to watch the traditional parade in the Irish capital of Dublin at midday today.

But the rest of the world can’t resist getting involved with celebrations, and parades and parties are held across the globe.