Wetin be St Patrick's Day and why dem dey celebrate am

Di image show a vibrant parade wit various participants in colourful costumes. Di central focus na large, inflatable structure wey resemble a sun wit multicoloured rays, mounted on a purple platform. A performer stand inside di structure, dressed in a green and gold outfit. Surrounding di structure na participants in red outfits pushing di platform, and odas dey in green and purple costumes holding decorative staffs. Di parade dey take place on a street lined wit spectators, wit a historic brick building and a modern building in di background. Di scene dey lively and festive, indicating a celebration or festival.

Wia dis foto come from, PA Media

Wetin we call dis foto, Performers dey take part for di St Patrick's Day 2024 parade for Belfast
    • Author, Lili Busby, Jake Liggett and Rachel McKeeman
    • Role, BBC News NI
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Thousands of pipo dey gada for towns and cities across Northern Ireland to celebrate St Patrick's Day on Monday.

Belfast promise to be multicultural celebration of music, culture, di Irish language and community.

Derry City and Strabane go "celebrate our heritage" wey go bring togeda pipo from local schools, sports clubs and drama groups.

Newry and Downpatrick go do parades wit street performers, community groups, dancers and pageantry.

Meanwhile, our BBC Dublin reporter Kevin Sharkey say di party don alreadi start for Irish capital, wit tens of thousands of visitors arriving ahead of di main event on Monday.

BBC News for Ireland don pull togeda wetin dey go on across different places as dem dey celebrate St Patrick's Day.

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How St Patrick's Day take come?

Millions of pipo around di world dey celebrate St Patrick's Day on 17 March evri year.

St Patrick Day na celebration of Irish history and culture, and na national holiday for di Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

St Patrick na di patron saint of Ireland and e dey celebrated for bringing Christianity to di kontri.

E grow up for Britain during Roman times, but dem kidnap am and take am to Ireland as slave.

Once dem free am, e train as a priest and go back to Ireland to convert thousands of pipo to Christianity.

Di dates of Patrick life no dey fixed wit certainty, but sometime afta 431 AD, Patrick dey appointed as successor to St Palladius, di first bishop of Ireland.

Wia dem dey celebrate St Patrick

Belfast

A lively street parade wit dancers wearing vibrant costumes. Some dey dressed in red outfits wit gold accents, while odas wear purple and multicoloured costumes. Dia skirts flare out as dey spin, showcasing dia energetic performance. Dia backdrop features a modern building wit large windows and an audience watching di festivities.
Wetin we call dis foto, Di St Patrick Day parade for Belfast fpr 2024

Belfast don dey host events since di start of March, wit a packed programme of cultural activities across di city leading up to St Patrick's Day.

Di St Patrick Day parade on Monday go start at 13:30 GMT.

Local dance troops, schools, community groups and musicians go weave dia way from Belfast City Hall, through di city centre via Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place, bifor returning to di city hall.

Belfast TradFest dey host a four-day music festival until Monday.

Féile an Phobail dey run a trad trail, wit ova 100 sessions for venues across di city.

Seachtain na Gaeilge, annual festival wey dey promote di Irish language and culture don dey host events since di beginning of di month.

Lively group dey gada for front of a building wit di sign 'ROBINSON & CLEAVER LTD.' Di scene dey vibrant, wit pipo wey dress in festive green attire and accessories like shamrock-themed headbands and glasses reflecting a celebration of St. Patrick Day. In di background, di city street buzzes wit activity, featuring oda buildings and pedestrians.
Wetin we call dis foto, E get large crowds out on di streets of Belfast for last year St Patrick's Day parade

Londonderry

Two pipo in vibrant, mushroom-themed costumes participate in a parade. Di first dey wear a large pink mushroom hat and a pink dress wit iridescent sleeves, while di second pesin for di background wear red mushroom hat wit white spots and a multicolored dress. Di street dey lined wit spectators, adding to di festive atmosphere.
Wetin we call dis foto, Amy Carroll of di North West Carnival initiative at a St Patrick's Day parade Derry for 2024

Di theme for Derry St Patrick Day programme incorporates forest, sky and sea as di city celebrate di arrival of brighter day ahead.

Activities dey planned for Guildhall Square, di Craft Village, Waterloo Place and di Guildhall.

Di St Patrick's Day parade go begin at 15:00 GMT, departing from di Bishop Street carpark.

Around 120 children from local schools go take part for dis year parade.

Dublin

Two men, smiling at di camera, standing in a street. Dem dey both wear a green shamrock-covered shirt, wit a scarf in di colours of di Irish flag - green, white and gold. One of dem dey wear lederhosen or traditional leather breeches wey dem dey wear for Germany.
Wetin we call dis foto, Markus and Julian don travel from Cologne in Germany for di Dublin celebrations

BBC reporter Kevin Sharkey send dis from Dublin say di streets of di city centre dey alreadi dey like sea of green.

St Patrick festival events bin happun for different parts of di city throughout di weekend.

Di national St Patrick's Day parade go begin at midday local time (12:00 GMT) on Monday, and go celebrate Irish culture and heritage.

Ova half a million spectators go gada to watch more dan 4,000 participants, including marching bands from around di world, performers, dancers, and colourful and creative St Patrick's Day floats.

A special pageant go celebrate 40 years of di Irish non-govmental organisation (NGO) Pavee Point, showcasing Irish Traveller and Roma traditions.

Downpatrick

A bustling crowd, don in festive green attire and hats, lines a city street to watch a vibrant St. Patrick Day parade. Central to di scene is a float resembling a black steam locomotive wey dey labeled 'St. Patrick's Express,' to promote di Downpatrick & County Down Railway. Di parade route dey flanked by various buildings, including shops like 'VOGUE' and 'O2.'
Wetin we call dis foto, Large crowds for St Patrick's Day parade for Downpatrick for 2024

Downpatrick dey known as di final resting place of St Patrick and dem go host a carnival parade wit street performers, community groups and dancers.

Di parade go leave from Downshire Estate at 13:30 GMT and go arrive di city centre.

Entertainment go dey throughout di afternoon for di Grove and St Patrick's Square.

Armagh

For Armagh, thousands of visitors dey expected for a week-long celebration, wey begin on Sunday, 9 March, wit a lineup of music, art, theatre, and cultural experiences.

Di city parade organised by di local community go start for 13:00 GMT on Monday from di Christian Brother's School.

A colourful street parade featuring two individuals for di foreground playing traditional drums. One pesin hold a large dhol drum and wear a red kurta wit a decorative vest, while di oda dey play a smaller hand drum and dey dressed in a maroon kurta wit a similar vest and a green-and-white jester-style hat. Di vibrant setting show a lively crowd for di background, many adorned in green accessories, suggesting a festive celebration.
Wetin we call dis foto, St Patrick's Day parade for Belfast for 2009

Newry

For Newry, di St Patrick Day parade dey depart from Albert Basin at 13:00 GMT on Monday.

Live music and celi go dey for di Marcus and Margaret Squares.

Dungannon

A free St Patrick's Day concert between 13:30 GMT and 16:30 GMT on Monday for di Hill of di O'Neill and Ranfurly House, Dungannon.

Irish trad and folk band The Muddlers Club go provide entertainment for di crowds.

Face painting, amusements, arts and crafts and food vendors go dey on site.

Enniskillen

Di Enniskillen St Patrick's Day parade go take place at 15:30 GMT on Monday - e go leave from Enniskillen Castle.

A free family fun day for di castle go play host to live entertainment acts.

On Sunday, illuminated tractor and truck run go take place along di traditional parade route.

Omagh

Omagh St Patrick Day Parade go begin for 14:00 GMT from South West College. Dis year theme na 'snakes alive', taking inspiration from di 2025 Lunar New Year of di snake.

Entertainment go dey and Strule Arts Centre go host a variety of family-friendly activities including arts and crafts, storytelling, and face painting.

Antrim and Newtownabbey

Di image capture a lively parade scene wit a crowded street of spectators. A float featuring a large circular structure wit spikes and intricate patterns take centre stage, accompanied by oda colourful, tiered floats in bright hues. Performers in vibrant costumes stand on di floats, adding to di festive atmosphere. Di crowd dey dressed in celebratory attire, reflecting di excitement and community spirit of di event. For di background, e get a mix of modern and older architecture, wit a visible street sign reading 'VICTORIA STREET' on a brick building to di left

Wia dis foto come from, PA Media

Wetin we call dis foto, Performers take part for di St Patrick Day Parade for Belfast, 2024

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council get an array of St Patrick's Day events on offer.

Dem go do exhibition of historic Irish dancing costumes dating back to di 1940s for di Theatre at The Mill, running until 13 April. Di exhibition go showcase di tradition and artistry of Irish dance and na free to visit.

A fun family day of live music, storytelling, and traditional Irish dancing and highland dancing dey take place for Antrim Castle Gardens.

To round off di celebrations, on di evening of St Patrick's Day, di Rapparees go take to di stage for Theatre at The Mill.

Lisburn

A St Patrick's Day celebration and tea dance go take place for di Market Square, Lisburn.

For di Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum, e go get free drop-in arts and crafts themed around di patron saint.

Ballycastle

For Ballycastle, County Antrim, e go get activities for families and a St Patrick's Day parade.

Inside di Marine Hotel, dem go do arts and crafts for families, including quiet area and informal sports demonstrations.

Why dem dey celebrate St Patrick's Day?

Saint Patrick Day bin start as religious feast to celebrate di work of Saint Patrick, but e don grow to be international festival wey dey celebrate evritin wey be for di Irish.

Pipo dey take part for parades and dancing, eat Irish food, and enjoy huge firework displays.

Di day also dey famous around di world for pipo wearing shamrocks, dressing up as bearded Irish fairies called leprechauns, and wearing all green.

Di famous St Patrick Parade dey often feature bands from around di world.

Dem dey do dis to celebrate di work of St Patrick wen e dey alive and di impact wey e don make.