Saint Patrick¡¯s Day is celebrated every year on March 17th. It is a day that honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Many symbols are connected to this holiday, but the three that are most widely recognized are the color green, shamrocks,* and leprechauns.*
The Color Green
Green is the most famous color of Saint Patrick¡¯s Day because it is the country¡¯s national color. Green represents the rolling hills of Ireland, and it also symbolizes hope and good fortune. This makes it the perfect color for the festive celebration.
People across the world celebrate Saint Patrick¡¯s Day by wearing green outfits. In the U.S. city of Chicago, the river is even dyed green for several hours with special vegetable-based powder.
Shamrocks
The shamrock is a small, three-leafed clover that has become synonymous with Saint Patrick¡¯s Day. It is believed that Saint Patrick actually used the shamrock to teach people about the Christian Holy Trinity.* The three leaves represented the Father,* the Son,* and the Holy Spirit.*
Despite its popularity, the shamrock itself is actually not the name of a real plant. Several species are commonly associated with the shamrock, but it is more of a symbol than a specific plant. Even still, people across Ireland love the imaginary plant and decorate themselves with shamrock pins to show their pride.
Leprechauns
Another popular symbol that is commonly associated with Saint Patrick¡¯s Day is the leprechaun. Leprechauns are mischievous little fairies from Irish folklore. They were best known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their treasures.
Today, leprechauns are usually portrayed as small men wearing green suits and tall hats. They supposedly live at the ends of rainbows, where they can be found protecting their pots of gold.