Landmarks Worldwide ‘Go Green’ For St. Patrick’s Day

Did you know the color originally associated with St. Patrick was blue? The saint was said to have used the three-leaved shamrock, a green-colored clover, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish. Today, the symbol and its color have become ubiquitous features of the holiday, which is celebrated worldwide by the Irish and their diaspora … plus anyone else looking for an excuse to consume copious amounts of alcohol, corned beef and cabbage.

Some famous landmarks have been “going green” for the holiday, including Las Vegas’ famous welcome sign (above), the Chicago river, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Niagara Falls, the London Eye, the Empire State Building in New York and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, among others. This year, for the first time ever, the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx in Egypt even changed their hue to celebrate the holiday.

Check out more images of landmarks bathed in green for St. Patrick’s Day after the jump.


Las Vegas’ welcome sign ringed in green bulbs for St. Patrick’s Day. [Photo credit: Courtesy the Las Vegas News Bureau]


In Chicago, the city’s namesake river has been turned green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day for more than 50 years. [Photo credit: AP Photo/Paul Beaty]


The London Eye lit up in green. [Photo credit: CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images]


[Top photo credit: SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images]

Video Of The Day: London Landmarks Seen Through Time-Lapse

“When I first moved to London, I was struck by the number of people living in this great city and the speed at which they move from one place to another,” writes filmmaker Lucas Veuve, who created the time-lapse film above that showcases many of London’s most famous landmarks, from Tower Bridge to Piccadilly Circus.

“I wanted to capture how I saw London when I first moved here,” he continued. We think he did a great job. Watch the video and see how many recognizable places you can spot: Big Ben, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin and Trafalgar Square, just to name a few. Even more mesmerizing is the way people move through the city when you view them in this way; Veuve explained he took photos every three-to-five seconds to get the time-lapse effect perfect.

Thanks to Visit London for bringing the video to our attention.

Video Of The Day: New Year’s Celebrations Around The World


As the year comes to a close, here’s a look back on how the world rang in 2012. From Sydney to Cape Town, these impressive fireworks displays highlight some of the most famous cities and landmarks throughout the world – whether that be the London Eye or the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Tonight’s celebrations are sure to be just as impressive, so circle back to Gadling tomorrow for some photos from the start of 2013.

10 Stunning And Iconic Shots Of London

With the 2012 Olympic Games only a few days away, we wanted to celebrate the beauty of London through unique photographs of the city’s iconic images and sites. While the Tower Bridge is a must-see attraction during the day, it’s even more worthwhile at night when it sparkles against a golden moon backdrop. Moreover, pictures of Big Ben at sunset, the city skyline reflected on the River Thames and an old-fashioned black and white photograph of the Houses of Parliament all pay tribute to this stunning city.

For a more visual idea of these beautiful and iconic shots, take at look at the gallery below. Looking for more London inspiration? Check out:

%Gallery-161036%

[Above image via john.purvis; Gallery images via Big Stock]

Photo of the day – silhouette of London

When I think of London, I often see gray. But not this time. This creative photo from Sarah Landau, a professional touring lighting designer, paints the traditional London skyline a little differently. Featuring the eye, Big Ben, and the Thames, this spooky image is a bit thought-provoking. My thought at this moment: I’d like to visit London again… immediately.

Wish we’d feature one of your photos with Photo of The Day? Upload your stuff to our Gadling Flickr pool.