The Shamrock and four leafed clover
According to an article I read on http://www.history.com, The Irish considered the shamrock or “seamroy”, as it was originally called, as a symbol of the rebirth of spring.
By the seventeenth century the Shamrock became a symbol of the emerging Irish nationalism.
Many Irish wore a shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage. This practice of wearing a shamrock design or clover grew as the English began to seize Irish land and the Irish wanted to show their displeasure of English rule.
According to some folk lore, Eve carried a four leaf clover from the Garden of Eden.
White clover is the most likely source of four leaf clover.
The early Celts of Wales held the four leaf clover in high esteem as a charm against evil spirits.
Druids thought the powers of four leaf clovers were a sign of good luck. It was thought that walking thru a field of the four leaved grass would bring good things, in short order, to the walkers.
The mystical benefits of four leaf clover continues today, in part because of the rareness of the plant.
Regarding wearing Green on St Patricks day:
The Irish flag had green, white and orange in it.
In Ireland, the Catholics were identified by green. Supposedly the orange represented the Protestants and the green represented the Catholics. The white represented the peace between the two.
Saint Patrick, a Catholic saint was credited with converting the island over to Christianity. Therefore, wearing green had been considered a good way to honor him.
During the earlier clashes in Ireland between the Catholics and Protestants, it was not unusual to see men in green clashing with men in orange.
The traditional pinching of a person who wears does not wear green on St. Patrick’s Day is a mild form of the violence that has so often occurred in the past.
So, in conclusion.
Did you find a 4 leaf clover today? Did you wear green? If you are not Irish, does it really matter to you?
Let’s have fun anyway. Maybe draw the line at pinching strangers not wearing green today.
Teddy Burriss 