Did you know that the real St. Patrick wasn’t born Irish? He was born in Great Britain!
There are plenty of St. Patty’s Day traditions and trivia like the above example that many of us may not know or completely understand. We’ve all become accustomed to parades, green beers, and leprechauns as St. Patty’s Day staples. But do you ever wonder where these traditions come from? Let’s take a look at how the top 3 customs came to be.
What Exactly Are Leprechauns?
Leprechauns, as we assume them to be, are sprite little men, hungry for gold, and endowed with mystical powers. While there isn’t a clear-cut answer regarding the origin of leprechauns, many believe that leprechauns likely stem from Celtic beliefs in fairies, tiny men and women with magical powers that like to play tricks. In old Celtic folktales, the job of the leprechaun was to mend the shoes of the other fairies.
Oh my… how adorable…?
Why Are Shamrocks Significant?
The shamrock was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland, symbolizing the rebirth of spring. It came to be a symbol of Irish patriotism as England began to occupy Irish land, and furthermore, began banning the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism. Many Irish started wearing shamrocks on their coats as a form of rebellion towards the English rule and as a symbol of pride in their heritage.
Why Green Everything?
When the Irish immigrants first immigrated to America, they took great efforts to honor their traditional Irish roots. They continued with the practice of wearing shamrocks on their clothing to display their national pride, particularly on St. Patrick’s Day, a traditionally religious holiday in Ireland.
The phrase “the wearing of the green” (meaning to wear a shamrock on one’s clothing) is popular amongst the Irish. So when displaying national pride on St. Patrick’s Day, one wears a shamrock, which has now evolved to wearing green clothing, and essentially… green everything.
Now that you’re at least 3 pieces of Irish information smarter, try to incorporate this new found knowledge into your day today! Wear a shamrock, drink green beer, and high five a leprechaun (you gotta dream big right?!).
