Culture

Lisbon wears green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day

This afternoon, Avenida da Liberdade hosted a parade that brought the energy and tradition of St. Patrick's Day to the Portuguese capital. The event brought together around 500 bagpipe players, divided between eight Portuguese and three Spanish bands.


For the second year running, the St. Patrick's Day celebration returned to Lisbon where the crowds following the parade were able to immerse themselves in the traditional Irish atmosphere. A vibrant, multicultural procession made its way down Avenida da Liberdade to Rossio, where a themed market and live performances prolonged the festive spirit.

St. Patrick's Day, celebrated annually on March 17, honors St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, who was responsible for spreading Christianity on the island during the 5th century.

The festival, marked by the color green and the three-leaf clovers that, according to legend, the saint used to explain the Holy Trinity, has become a global event, bringing Irish culture to many countries.