Brussels turns green for Saint Patrick’s Day

As Saint Patrick's Day celebrations kick off the world round today, revellers in Brussels have already been at it since yesterday. In the Cinquantenaire park on Sunday there was a big Irish celebration and a parade. The many Irish pubs across Brussels were overfull, and the festivities continue today. Manneken Pis is all decked out for the occasion in Irish colours and tonight the Grand’Place will be fully illuminated in green. Saint Patrick is celebrated every year on March 17 because he brought Catholicism to Ireland and, according to legend, he drove out all the snakes. But for most people around the world, with or without Irish roots, it’s a day for drinking and merrymaking in good company.