Many places across the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17. The date marks the death of Saint Patrick, a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop. He is the primary patron saint of Ireland. In Ireland, the holiday is a holy day and cultural celebration.

If you're lucky enough to visit Dublin, Ireland on their national holiday, you can enjoy a festival with céilís (traditional dances) and a parade that attracts over a million visitors.

In the U.S., St. Patty's Day is celebrated usually as a cultural holiday by wearing green clothing and leprechaun hats, and drinking green-colored beer.

Forbes reports that 127 million Americans will celebrate the Irish heritage this year, and across the world, 13 million pints of Guinness will be consumed, which is enough to fill 60 percent of the Empire State Building!

Here are three of the biggest parties along the east coast where you can "go green" and celebrate:

New York City
More than 2 million visitors attend the Big Apple's St. Patrick's Day parade and celebration. The St. Patrick's Day parade marches up Fifth Avenue 11 a.m. this year with its first openly gay group in its ranks, reports The New York Times. The New Year's Eve Ball will be lit in green on the roof of One Times Square at 11 a.m.

If you are looking for something more cultural, check out a historic walking tour of the Lower East Side and Five Points neighborhood, both of which were a former Irish enclave in the 19th century. Also, check out the "Irish Outsiders" exhibit at the Tenement Museum.

Boston, Massachusetts
Boston has hosted its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade since 1737. It is the nation's longest-running public parade, reports Huffington Post. Boston is the Irish epicenter of the U.S., with 25 percent of residents claiming Irish ancestry.

Before you dive into the green beer and festivities, you might want to check out the guided tours of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail. An expert guide will tell you about 300 years of Irish history in the city, including the Irish participation in both the Revolution and Civil War, and the Potato Famine. You will also learn about notable politicians with Irish ancestry, like the Kennedys.

Savannah, Georgia

The St. Patrick's Day celebration in Savannah, Georgia, has been compared to Mardi Gras in New Orleans; at sunset, the party can get rather wild on River Street.

City of Savannah kicks off its celebration at 10:15 a.m. with the 191st St. Patrick's Day Parade, live music and Miss St. Patrick's Day Pageant. It is such a huge event that, for bleacher seating, you need tickets -- $25 per person and $1,200 for corporate seating.

Drinking green beer on the streets is allowed if you wear a wristband (proving you are 21 or older) and beverages are kept in plastic or styrofoam cups.

Savannah dyed its famous river green in 1961 but stopped because the tide swept it away quickly, a spokeswoman told USA TODAY Network.

The city dyes the water of its historical fountains green, including the Forsyth Fountain, which is considered the city's "crown jewel."