Saint Patrick’s Day is soon upon us! What do you think about when this holiday rolls around? Probably all things GREEN! Perhaps clothing or funny hats adorned with shamrocks, festive green beer at your local pub, or if you’re a beader – or just plain love jewelry – perhaps you’re digging out all your favorite green-themed pieces to adorn your neck, wrists, and ears!

Admittedly, I’m not Irish – BUT I’ve always felt a strong pull towards all things of the Emerald Isle! Perhaps this was foreshadowing for the enormous Irish family that I would one day marry into! My family-in-law is SUPER Irish. (Can you be “SUPER Irish?” If you can, that’s them!) I have a Ginger-freckled green-eyed husband and my mother-in-law has a very particular favorite color. (She also makes the best corned beef and cabbage and she drives from Connecticut to Boston just to purchase it for this special holiday!)

So how did this all start? What IS Saint Patrick’s Day and how did shamrocks and all things GREEN (her favorite color, if you couldn’t guess) come to be associated with it?

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17th, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland. This has become an international day of Irish culture. It’s interesting to note however that the first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade was held not in Ireland but in New York City in 1762, and with the dramatic increase of Irish immigrants to the United States in the mid-19th century, the March 17th celebration became widespread for the culture and traditions of all things Irish – or those who want to pretend for a day!

 

 

SO WHAT ABOUT ALL THAT GREEN? Why do we wear THAT color for this holiday?

 

 

Well, aside from the Emerald Isle and it’s lush green landscape, every leprechaun we’ve seen is wearing a green get-up, thus distinguishing them as such in Irish folklore. It came to be that St. Patrick’s revelers thought wearing green made leprechauns unable to see you. These fairy creatures would pinch anyone they could see (anyone not wearing green) and this has developed into pinching others to remind them that leprechauns wouldn’t approve of their non–green apparel.

 

AND THE SHAMROCK?

Saint Patrick’s Day, which is originally a Roman Catholic feast day, considers the three leaves of the shamrock (more green!) to represent The Holy Trinity. But the leaves can also stand secularly for faith, hope and love – with a fourth leaf being the bringer of luck!

 

Do you need any help with GREEN beads and crystals for this festive day? Eureka Crystal Beads can more than accomodate you!

Check out the Swarovski Crystal Clover pendant to create some simple and stunning earrings or weave a bracelet with all-things-green by checking out this “Emerald” search on our website!

What will YOU be wearing for St. Paddy’s? What traditions with you take part in? Please, comment below and share with us! Because on March 17th, we all carry with us a little Luck O’ The Irish!