A hockey fan participates in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Vancouver, Canada, March 17, 2013. Thousands of people have crowded downtown Vancouver to watch as bagpipers, Irish dancers and hurlers paraded with dreadlocked dancers, green samba queens, and even a roller derby team took part in the 9th annual St. Patrick's Day parade. The festivities continue the centuries-old custom of partying on the saint's feast day, March 17, to honour his role of helping convert the Irish to the Catholic faith. (Xinhua/Sergei Bachlakov)