Thank you Richard. That is lovely to hear. All the best from sunny Dublin!
Why wear Shamrock?
Written by Ciaran on Feb. 26, 2024 | 6 Comments
Six reasons to wear Shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day or year round.
Stemming from the Irish word for young clover, seamair óg, seamróg, or shamrock as it is more commonly known, is the national flower of Ireland and an iconic global symbol of the Emerald Isle.
Many also associate the plant with Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick. But why do people the world over wear shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day? And where did this association between shamrock, Ireland and St. Patrick come from? Read on for answers.
Shamrock can be spotted on the lapels of coats, painted on faces, as novelty glasses or hats, or of course as pieces of heirloom jewelry the world over on St. Patrick’s Day.
And while each individual will no doubt have their own reason for wearing the shamrock, they will broadly fall into one or more of these six categories:
1. Wear the Shamrock for Ireland
The shamrock is known worldwide as a symbol of Ireland. Wearing a shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day shows support for Ireland as well as Irish culture on our national day each March 17th. For many this is also an expression of pride in Irish heritage.
Comdt Fiachra Keyes presents Cpl Paul Butler with a Shamrock during the St Patrick's Day Parade in Collins Barracks Cork.
Photo Credit: Sgt Barry McCarthy, Óglaigh na hÉireann (CC BY 2.0)
2. Wear the Shamrock for St. Patrick
For some, especially in Ireland, wearing the shamrock is still very much tied to honoring our patron saint, St. Patrick. Up until the 20th century, St. Patrick’s Day was a religious holiday with not a parade to be seen. Today, many churches and imposing cathedrals like St. Patrick’s own in Dublin, offer special services for the saint as well as the blessing of the shamrock.
3. Wear the Shamrock for Luck
As well as being an international symbol of Ireland, the shamrock and more broadly the clover, are also symbols of luck and good fortune. So many people choose to wear the shamrock to bring a bit of the “luck of the Irish” to their day.
4. Wear the Shamrock for Fun
Here at my Irish Jeweler we are firm believers that everyone's Irish on St. Patrick’s day. We know that many enjoy wearing the shamrock because it adds a touch of fun to festivities. Just like wearing team colors, wearing shamrock shows you are joining in the festivities and are part of the celebration.
Honorary MIJ mascot Brody ready for St. Patrick's Day fun in his scarf
5. Wear the Shamrock for its beauty
Perhaps we are biased but the shamrock has a very pleasing symmetry, with a striking three leafed structure. And we are not the only ones to think so. Similar trefoil plants can be seen on the head of Osiris in ancient Egyptian artifacts, on the three leaved wand of Hermes, in Ancient Greece, and adorning ancient Persian crowns. So it is not just the Celts that appreciated trefoil plants. We think the shamrock makes for particularly handsome jewelry.
6. Wear the Shamrock for Tradition
For many, in Ireland at least, wearing the shamrock on St. Patrick’s day is such a long held tradition that it is just the done thing. Parents and grandparents and great-grandparents before wore shamrock, so you do too!
St Patrick's Day in the Morning by Henry Parsons Riviere.
The origins of the Shamrock Tradition
It is difficult to pinpoint the origins of this tradition, when shamrock was elevated above common young clover to become an important symbol in Ireland. But we know it certainly has roots, pardon the pun, in Celtic culture.
Shamrock as a symbol of the Celts
We know that the Celts held the number 3 in high regard. Druids, Celtic high priests, and priestesses would have used three-leaved clover or shamrock as an emblem of the spring equinox, which falls around March 20th in Ireland.
Shamrock as a symbol of St. Patrick
The story goes that the canny St. Patrick, who came to Ireland in the 5th Century to convert the pagan Celts, used the shamrock as a symbol of the Holy Trinity. By tapping into a symbol that was familiar to his would-be converts, he made his job a bit easier. With his success and Ireland becoming a predominantly Christian country, this plant became a symbol of the saint himself. The rest, as they say, is history.
Stained glass window of St. Patrick by Micheal Healy RHA (Dublin 1873 - 1941) at the National Gallery of Ireland
Shamrock as a symbol of Ireland
There is a record from 1571 of people eating shamrock, with a later entry in 1737 saying it was done to make them speedy and of nimble strength! But this may have been a case of something being lost in translation. The Irish name for young clover, seamróg, is very similar to that for wood sorrel, seamsóg, something Irish people would have eaten. There is no mention of eating clover in any Irish record.
St Patrick's Day in the Evening by Henry Parsons Riviere.
The shamrock appears on Irish coins in 1675 with St Patrick's Coppers or Half pennies. But it is 1681, when we get the first record of people wearing shamrock to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, and it is not a very flattering one! The view at the time was that only the vulgar wore the shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day! Today it is worn by the President of Ireland and millions worldwide, so thankfully, that particular negative association is gone!
And just like the color green, Shamrocks were also popularized and celebrated in traditional Irish music with songs like ”The Shamrock Shore” ensuring this symbol was widely known in Ireland and farther afield.
Shamrock has now surpassed the saint and his day, becoming a symbol of Ireland recognized the world over. Adorning the badges of our national sports teams, and flying on the tail of our national airline, the Shamrock is now an Irish icon in its own right, synonymous with Ireland.
Will you wear Shamrock?
Are you convinced? Will you be sporting the Shamrock this St. Patrick's Day or any other day for that matter? Let us know in the comments below.
And of course if you would like a piece of our fine Shamrock Jewelry to treasure this Irish symbol on St. Patrick's day and year round, we would be delighted to help.
Your own Shamrock
Silver or gold, for gents or ladies, we have pendants, earrings, bracelets and rings adorned with the Shamrock. Beautiful designs preserve this delicate symbol in heirloom pieces that can be treasured for a lifetime.
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Ciaran
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
Comments
I’m Irish ☘️ in my heart and soul. I love the land and the people. I wear My Irish Jeweler pieces all the time! ♥️
Hi Terri, That's what we love to hear! Thanks for writing in. It's wonderful to hear that you have found a connection with Ireland and My Irish Jeweler pieces. Warm wishes from Dublin!
Of course! All green and shamrocks for this Irish girl!!
That's the spirit, Margaret! Here's to a wonderful St. Patrick's season for you and yours. Cheers from all of us in Dublin.
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