I'm sure most people know at least a handful of familiar facts about the Shamrock, but here, we want to enlighten you further, with facts and legends, both interesting and fun! The shamrock is probably the most often used symbol of Ireland and the Irish, and so we'll start with a common misconception...



IS THE SHAMROCK IRELAND'S NATIONAL SYMBOL?
Most people believe that the Shamrock is the national symbol of the Emerald Isle, but it is noy-- at least not officially. The symbol that Ireland chose for herself is actually the Harp - "The harp that once thro' Tara's Hall the soul of music shed." (Thomas Moore). However, the Shamrock is equally familiar, if not more so, as a symbol of the Irish. Two prominent Irish companies who use the symbol are--
    and    

DRUIDS & THE SHAMROCK
Did the DRUIDS make use of the Shamrock? For them, it was a symbol of the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, as well as being associated with the sacred number of 3, therefore more fortunate, being a number of completion and perfection.The Shamrock with its trefoil leaves also symbolized the three forms of the Celtic Mother Goddess, Morrigan (or Morgan) as Maiden, Mother, Crone. The shamrock was usually worn for good luck on the shoulder or attached to spears and swords to call on the Goddess' help during battle. The followers of the Goddess Brigit also used the shamrock to symbolize her triad.


SHAMROCKS IN ANCIENT LITERATURE
Pliny, the ancient naturalist & writer of 1st century Greece, mentions a plant called "trefoil" several times, especially in its use against the poisonous stings of serpents and some noxious insects--the seed was taken in doses of twenty grains in a draught of wine, or a decotion made of the boiled leaves. He also recalls that is was sometimes cooked with cabbage so that leaf would retain it's green color.It was said by Sophocles that serpents were never seen among the trefoil---which brings us to the next ancient connection...


ST. PATRICK & THE SHAMROCK-SNAKE CONNECTION
Most of us know that St. Patrick converted the Irish with the use of the Shamrock. The details were usually told this way--that, upon seeing the Druid priests and cheiftains wearing the trefoil shaped shamrock on their clothes & swords, St. Patrick (realizing it was all ready a meaningful plant to them) plucked one from the ground & began to explain the mysteries of the Trinity with the leaves. Now, none of his extant writings mentions the use of the shamrock in teaching doctrine, but since the plant appears on the tombs of ancient bishoips, and even on the old copper coins called "St. Patrick's money", there may still be some truth to the story.As for the connection to snakes, when St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland, he then filled the land with shamrocks to keep them away.

An old Irish blessing says,

"There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle, 'Twas Saint Patrick himself, sure, that set it; And the sun of his labor with pleasure did smile, And with dew from his eye often wet it. It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland !

THE SHAMROCK & "WEARING OF THE GREEN"
After the Irish Rebellion against English rule in 1798, an anonymous ballad was written, called "The Wearing of the Green--it became a slap in the face of the English to wear green or even a shamrock in one's hat or on one's clothes. The shamrock and the color green were also tokens of the Society of United Irishmen, and became a symbol of national pride & empowerment--though, by British law the wearing of them meant death by hanging.
"O Paddy dear, an' did ye hear the news that's goin' round?
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground;
St. Patrick's Day no more we'll keep, his colour can't be seen,
For there's a bloody law against the wearin' o' the Green."



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