|
IRISH SHAMROCKS
The true Irish shamrock is actually a clover.
The word shamrock comes
from the Irish word "seamrog" meaning "little clover".
A form of clover called "white clover" or
Trifolium repens
forma minus, family Leguminosae, a creeping, white-flowered perennial.was the
original shamrock of Ireland. In written English, the first
reference to the shamrock dates from 1571.
The shamrock as a symbol of Ireland has long been
integrated into the heraldry of the United Kingdom, along with
the rose, the thistle and the leek of
England, Scotland and Wales.
The origins of the shamrocks popularity can be traced to Saint
Patrick. He used the
plant to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by
using it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the
same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock
on his feast day. |
|
The
shamrock was used as an emblem by the Irish Volunteers in the
era of Grattan's Parliament in the 1770's, before '98 and The
Act of Union. So rebellious did the wearing of the shamrock
eventually appear, that in Queen Victoria's time, Irish
regiments were forbidden to display it. As a replacement it
became the custom for civilians to wear a little paper cross
colored red and green.
To this day, on St. Patrick's
Day, a member of the British Royal Family presents a
shamrock to the Irish Guards regiment of the British Army.
Three is Ireland's magic number.
Hence the shamrock.
- Crone, mother and virgin.
- love, valor and wit..
- faith, hope and charity.
- father, son and Holy Spirit.
Numbers played an important role in
Celtic symbolism. Three was the most sacred and magical number. It
multiplies to nine, which is sacred to goddess Brigit. Three may
have signified totality: past, present and future OR behind, before
and here OR sky, earth and underworld. Everything good in Ireland
comes in threes. The rhythm of story telling in the Irish tradition
is based on threefold repetition. This achieves both intensification
and exaggeration. Even today in quality pub talk, a raconteur can
rarely resist a third adjective, especially if it means stretching a
point. "Three accomplishments well regarded in Ireland: a clever
verse, music on the harp, the art of shaving faces."
Shamrocks have been considered by the Irish as good-luck
symbols since earliest times, and this superstition has
persisted in modern times among people of many nationalities.
On March 17th, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated around the
world, with the "wearin' o' the green".
May your blessings
outnumber the shamrocks that grow,
and my trouble avoid you wherever you go...
Irish Blessing
|
