The Meaning of the Shamrock

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Do you know what the shamrock really represents?

Many countries celebrate St. Patrick’s Day today, because St. Patrick died on this day in 471. Did you know that St. Patrick was actually British, not Irish?  Named Maewyn Succat at birth, slave traders sold him into slavery when he was a teenager and as a slave he learned about God.  Then he escaped back to England, where the English church ordained him Patrick as a priest and he began converting all of the Irish Celtic pagans to Christianity.

St. Patrick is one of the most well-known patron saints of Ireland.  According to the legend, St. Patrick brought Christianity to the island and made the shamrock fashionable.  In other words, he made Christianity fashionable!

What do I mean by my last sentence?  Since the Celts believed that each leaf of the clover had meaning, St. Patrick used clover leaves to teach the Irish people about Christianity. He taught the Irish people that each of the three leaves of the clover represented the holy trinity (God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).  After teaching the Irish people this, he made the shamrock popular by starting several churches, schools, and monasteries on the island.

The shamrock is green and we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green.  Many people also celebrate this holiday by drinking beer.

Since I know the real meaning of the shamrock and do not drink alcohol anyway, I would never celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by drinking  beer. I am wearing red today instead of green for a reason.

Red represents the color of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross and St. Patrick spread Christianity, so I am wearing red to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. To me, the three leaves of the shamrock represent faith, hope, and love. And today my goal is the same it is every other day: to spread God’s love through my actions with as many people as possible. So if you see me, please do not pinch me for not wearing green!

Let the encouraging words in these near a river posts help you

soar like an eagle above life’s storms.

Move on from your past!

Here is a great recipe for all of us.

Can you answer my  unanswered questions?

The shamrock stands for faith, hope, and love to me.

If you enjoyed this post, remember that BJ writes children’s books.

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