March 17 - St. Patrick Day (photo, video)
A party dedicated to this "green holiday" took place in Minsk the day before.
This traditional Irish holiday has overgrown the borders of Ireland long ago and has become a sort of the international day of Ireland in the whole world.
According to the legend, Saint Patrick brought Christianity to the pagan land and chased away all snakes. Parades with dances and songs are held in the honour of the Saint, and there's much Irish beer all around. The participants of the celebration usually wear green clothes, as this is the traditional colour of the Irish.
Saint Patrick is honoured by Christians in the whole world, but the day of March 17 also has some pagan motives. For instance, it has such characters as leprechauns - fairy-tale tailors, who possess the hidden pot with gold. The lucky guy who catches a leprechaun will know the secret of hidden treasures.
