St. Patrick's Day was originally founded in Ireland, as a religious holiday honoring the country’s patron saint: St. Patrick, who is known for converting many of the Emerald Isle's citizens to Christianity in the 400s. After his death, March 17 became an annual holiday in which individuals honored his life. Over centuries, St. Patrick's Day became an internationally celebrated holiday. Today, however, the holiday focuses less on religion and more on festivities. The holiday is now not only celebrated by Irishmen but in countries all over the world in many different ways mainly with festivals and parades. Travel Insured, a leading travel insurance company, provides some of the most famous celebrations from around the world!

Dublin, Ireland -
The people of Dublin have adopted the Americanized version of St Patrick’s Day and partake in celebrations including carnival rides, parades, festivals, and shows. Unlike the American traditions, Ireland does still hold true to its past and tries to hold events focusing on their culture and history to help remember the true meaning of the holiday. The city holds a five day long event including all of these celebrations where visitors can pick and choose which they would like to attend.

Boston, USA -
Boston is among one of the US Cities which contain a great amount of Irish Heritage. Boston is known for one of the most traveled to parades in South Boston, on Sunday, March 16. The city also provides a number of other ways to celebrate including the “Boston Flower and Garden Show” which has been going on since 1901, “Beer and Irish Rock and Roll” at the Harpoon brewery, the Dropkick Murphy’s performing at the House of Blues, and a special exhibit at the JFK Library and Museum.

London, England -
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have become increasingly popular in London and there is an expected 100,000 people that will be joining in on the festivities this year. The celebrations take place in Trafalgar Square, including a comedy festival and a 1.5 miles long parade. There are also a number of buildings and monuments that will be turned green, even including The London Eye.

NYC, USA -
With more than 150,000 participants, New York City this is home to the world’s biggest St Patrick’s Day parade. It marches along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on the Sunday before the day itself, and has been going since before the Declaration of Independence, having started in 1762. Individuals travel from all over the world to get a glimpse of this massive celebration.

Tokyo, Japan -
Irish pride has even made its way to Japan when the largest St. Patrick ’s Day celebration is held in the country of Ise. Every year, hundreds of individuals meet at the Ise Shrine where the St Patrick’s parade begins. The parade is filled with bagpipers, floats, costumes, and Irish flags. This year also happens to be the 20th anniversary and visitors can expect marching bands, merrymakers dressed as characters from the Emerald Isle, leprechaun costumes, and floats.

No matter which vacation destination interests you the most, Travel Insured International reminds travelers who plan to get away during the 2014 travel season to invest in the right insurance policy before traveling. It only takes one uninsured travel risk, arriving without expectation, to destroy a dream trip, or worse, incur uncovered emergency medical costs. Prepared travelers will plan ahead with the policy which fits their coverage need best in order to protect their travel investments.

About Travel Insured:

Travel Insured International is one of the largest privately held travel protection companies in the US, and preferred supplier to over 5,000 travel agents, travel consortiums and wholesalers in the US and abroad. As a former division of the Travelers up until 1994, and originator of travel insurance in the US, you can say that the “travel protection” blood lines run deep. Travel Insured International’s customer centric claims operation has significant expertise in both domestic and international claims administration.

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