This St, Patricks Day, as millions around the world don their green clothing, those in Ireland will be putting on some blue. Traditionally, St. Patrick wore a blue cloak and hood and the Irish that live here on the island continue this custom.
The "wearing of the green" comes from the practice of pinning a shamrock on your lapel. Centuries ago, wearing a shamrock was considered rebellious and even illegal. In some parts of the world, to say you're "wearing the green" meant you sided with the Irish rebellion against the English rule.
Why the lapel custom? Legend says that in the 5th century, St. Patrick used the three leaf clover or "seamrog" to explain the triad of Chistianity to the Druids. The Celtic religion considered the number three to be mystical and sacred, sometime referring to totality, or the sky, earth, and underworld.
Today, the shamrock is often confused with the four-leaf clovers, but the two have differen meanings. The four-leaf clover symbolizes good luck. Shamrocks, on the other hand, are simply a native plant of Ireland and represent Irish pride and tradition. -http://americanirish.blogspot.com/
Irish Blessing:
3 comments:
Hi Barb, great post. I didn't know the story behind wearing green and about some of the history behind St. Patrick Day customs. I also liked the Irish Blessings.
Thanks so much for sharing. Happy St. Patricks Day!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!! I had these crazy Irish teachers in elementary school that made us wear dunce caps on St. Patrick's Day if we did not wear green (those of us who were Irish) and also if we wore orange. I wonder if that is why I am not a big fan of orange today.
Wow, that's interesting about those teachers and the dunce caps. I had forgotton all about that practice and I do believe that was going on when I went to school. I remember they used to make the students stand in the corner or go sit in the coatroom. I didn't understand why you were punished for wearing "orange".
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