WestieBoys's Blogs

Why do people wear green on St. Patrick’s Day?

True or False?  Green was not the original color associated with St. Patrick’s Day. 
The answer is true.  Blue was the original color of St. Patrick’s Day and can still be seen on ancient Irish Flags. 

The color green was later adopted by Ireland in the 19th Century because green is representative of spring, fertility, life, and of course the shamrock.  Ireland is also known as the “Emerald Isle”, because all the rain and mist they receive keeps the land green and fertile.  On St. Patrick’s Day, the phrase “wearing of the green” means that people wear green Shamrocks (the three-leaved plant that St. Patrick used to explain the Trinity) on their lapels to protect them from evil spirits and watch over their souls.

In the United States, there is a tradition that if you don’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll get pinched.

What is a Leprechaun anyway?

The only Leprechaun most of us know is on the box of Lucky Charms — and he seems like a jolly fellow, right?  However, according to tradition, Leprechauns aren’t so friendly; in fact they are sly and untrustworthy.  Folklore states that Leprechauns are two feet tall Irish fairies.  They are shoemakers that live alone and have a pot of gold that they hide at the end of a rainbow.  Legend says that if you hear his hammer you can find him.  If he is caught, he must tell you where the pot of gold his, but if you take your eyes off of him for even a second, he will disappear and take the treasure with him.

What is the significance of the Shamrock?

Shamrock which means “little clover” is a three-leaf clover.  Legend says that St. Patrick used a three-leaf clover to explain the Christian Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) to help convert the Irish to Christianity.  To this day, Shamrocks are considered good luck and are worn on the lapels of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.

When a Shamrock is found with four leaves, it represents “God’s Grace” and is considered a rarity as well as an omen for good luck.  According to legend, the leaves of a four-leaf clover represent hope faith, love, and luck.  (Source: Clover Specialty Company)

There are many stories surrounding why the four-leaf clover is lucky. One story is that when Adam and Eve were thrown out of Paradise, it is said that Eve took a four-leaf clover with her as a souvenir.  She kept it with her as a reminder of her happy days in Paradise.  It is said that finding one in one’s own garden will bring you the same kind of happiness.

On a more religious angle, some say that clover represents the arms of the cross, while others believe that the four leaves describe the points of the compass: north, south, east, and west.  Some even say that finding a four-leaf clover will prevent madness.