The Symbols of St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, is a celebration of all things Irish. Originally, a day to commemorate the Roman Catholic St. Patrick, the day has evolved into a day of parades, Irish food, green beer, and lots of Irish song and dance.

Several symbols are commonly associate with St. Patrick’s Day–the shamrock, a pot of gold, and that impish fellow, the leprechaun.

Shamrocks. The shamrock is the symbol of Ireland. The petals of the three-leafed clover represent the Holy Trinity in this primarily Catholic nation. Shamrocks are said to be lucky.

Leprechaun. The leprechaun is a male faerie that comes from Irish mythology. He is typically depicted wearing green, with a top hat and big belt buckle. Leprechaun’s are reputed to be very rich, having a pot or two of gold stashed away. They are benign, if somewhat impish, creatures.

Pot o’ Gold. The wealth of the leprechauns, the pot o’gold is traditionally depicted as a black cauldron, filled with gold coins. According to Irish folklore, leprechauns store their pots o’ gold at the end of the rainbow.

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