The Shamrock, St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland

St. Patrick's Day is almost here! While you're gearing up to celebrate, have you ever wondered why the shamrock became one of the main symbols for both St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland? 

Here's a brief history of how that came about. 

Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain (probably modern-day Scotland) at around 385 AD. When he was 16, he was captured and enslaved by Irish pirates, and brought to Ireland to work as a shepherd. He managed to escape, and returned to his family. 

He became a Roman Catholic priest and eventually a bishop. He returned to Ireland as a missionary and converted the people there to Christianity. According to Irish lore, he used the shamrock (a type of three-leaf clover) to explain the Holy Trinity.

Saint Patrick died March 17, 461 AD. March 17 became a religious holiday in Ireland. In the 17th century, the Irish began wearing shamrocks in their hats while celebrating the saint’s feast day. 

During the 18th century, the shamrock became a symbol of Irish pride and resistance against British rule. 

When Irish immigrants came to America in the 18th century, there were no shamrocks to be found here. They celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with parades and parties, using the color green and pictures of the shamrock as substitutes for the plant. New York City held the first-ever St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1762, organized by Irish soldiers serving in the British Army. 

Thanks to Irish immigrants in the U.S. and other countries, St. Patrick’s Day evolved from a religious holiday to a secular celebration of Irish heritage. 

In the 1920s, Hallmark created greeting cards for St. Patrick’s Day. The shamrock was an obvious choice when choosing a design for its cards. The shamrock remains one of the most popular symbols for Hallmark for St. Patrick’s Day. 

In 1985, the Irish government registered the shamrock as a worldwide trademark for Irish goods and services.