Shamrocks and leprechauns abound during Saint Patrick’s Day, while masses of people hit the streets dressed in green in honor of the March 17 holiday. Here is a bit of background behind the Irish symbols commonly associated with Saint Patrick’s Day festivities.
Irish Shamrocks and Four-Leaf Clovers
When it comes to Saint Patrick’s Day, many people think the Irish shamrock and the four-leaf clover are interchangeable, but in fact, they each hold a very different significance to the holiday.
A shamrock is a three-leaved clover, first celebrated in ancient Ireland as a symbol of spring’s arrival. Christian legend states that Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to non-believers, although this connection has never been proven.
According to the BBC news article “The Truth Behind the Shamrock”, the shamrock was used as a symbol of rebellion against the English during the 19th century. Today, shamrocks remain a symbol of nationalism and one of Ireland’s most-recognized icons.
As its name suggests, the four-leaf clover differs from the shamrock in that it has four leaves instead of three, and is considered a mutation of the shamrock plant. According to Irish legend, anyone who finds a four-leaf clover will be blessed with good luck, especially if they come across one by accident.
The Leprechaun
In Irish folklore, the leprechaun is a type of fairy or sprite that looks like a tiny bearded man. Modern leprechauns are traditionally depicted dressed in green, wearing a coat, a cocked hat with a belted hatband, and buckled shoes.
The leprechaun works as a shoemaker, and is often described as a jokester. He prefers to lead a solitary life, making him very difficult to find. Legend dictates that any person who finds and captures a leprechaun will receive his pot of gold; however, leprechauns are wily characters and most tales end with the leprechaun tricking his captor and making an escape.
The Snake
One of the biggest myths surrounding Saint Patrick is the story that he once stood on a hilltop and, using only a wooden staff, banished all the snakes from Ireland. In truth, the fact that Ireland is an island means there were likely never any snakes in the country to begin with. The story of Saint Patrick and the snakes can be viewed as a metaphor for his role in removing pagan religions, for which snakes were a common symbol, by converting many Irish to Christianity.
Wearing Green on Saint Patrick's Day
Dressing in the color green is one of the most popular ways people celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. It pays tribute to the country of Ireland, whose landscape remains green year round, earning it the poetic name of “The Emerald Isle”. Wearing green, especially on Saint Patrick’s Day, is believed to bring a person good luck.
Trilby Henderson - After completing a BA in Journalism at the University of Regina, one of Canada's leading journalism schools, I spent several years working ...
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