Popular places on Paddy's Day

One of the more popular holidays across the globe each year is St. Patrick's Day. Whether you're of Irish heritage or not, the festive attitude associated with Paddy's Day is fun for all. The following cities are some of the more popular haunts for Paddy's Day revelry. But even if you can't make it to any of these locales for the big day, you can still find somewhere close to home that celebrates this most festive of holidays.

* San Francisco: While it's typical for Americans to associate the Northeast part of the country, in particular New York City and Boston, with Paddy's Day, San Francisco will host their 157th Annual St. Patricks Day Parade in 2009. The accompanying St. Patrick's Day Celebration features a host of musical acts influenced by traditions Irish music.

* New York City: Perhaps no St. Patrick's Day Parade is more widely known than the 42-block stroll uptown along Manhattan's famed Fifth Avenue. Featuring approximately 150,000 marchers, the New York Saint Patrick's Day Parade is quickly approaching its 250th anniversary. And when speaking of New York City, one can't help but mention the city's renowned and thriving nightlife, making it a perfect place for Paddy's Day revelers to let loose and enjoy themselves in celebration of Saint Patrick.

* Tokyo, Japan: Though its history might not be too deep, the Tokyo St. Patrick's Day Parade is the biggest Irish event in Japan. A tradition since 1992, the Tokyo Paddy's Day Parade typically features 2,000 participants, with several thousand more spectators on hand. Past participants in the parade have even included Irish dignitaries, including former deputy prime minsiter Mary Hearney.

* Boston: Another city synoymous with St. Patrick's Day thanks to its large Irish and Irish-American population, Boston has hosted a wildly popular Paddy's Day parade for more than 100 years. Featuring dozens of bands, including local favorites as well as bands from Ireland and across North America, the Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade does not always take place on St. Patrick's Day. So those traveling to the city for the festivities should look into this important detail when planning a trip.