Origins of Irish Folklore
Legend of the Leprechaun, the Shamrock and the Chladdagh
Mar 11, 2010 Mary Alice Franklin
St. Patrick’s Day is one celebrated with green shamrocks and tales of leprechauns. But why are these symbols so prevalent on St. Patrick’s Day? They, along with the “claddagh” emblem, signify much more to Ireland all year around than they do to everyone else on March 17th!
Leprechaun
Folklore tells us that Leprechauns—elves with green outfits, long beards and Irish accents—are both our friends and deceitful sneaks. Legend says that every Leprechaun guards a pot of gold which can be found at the end of a rainbow. If you catch him, you can force him to reveal the treasure’s location. When a rainbow appears, the elves come out of hiding, but be careful!
Catching him, unfortunately, isn’t so easy. If anyone catches the eye of a Leprechaun, or worse yet betrays him, he will disappear from your sight and all hopes of finding the gold will disappear right along with him. It surely would be “the luck of the Irish” to find and keep hold of one of these tricky guys!
Shamrock
The Shamrock plant is Ireland's national symbol, derivative of the Irish seamróg, meaning “young clover.” Traditionally worn by the Irish and the Irish-for-a Day on St. Patrick’s Day, its origins date far back to Saint Patrick himself.
St. Patrick used the shamrock as a way to teach the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity—that God was composed of three entities: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, however each encompassed the others and come together in one meaning, just as the leaves on a shamrock converge with a single stem.
Typically consisting of 3 leaves, it is a rare occurrence when one discovers a 4-leaf clover. Universally accepted as a symbol of good luck, the four leaf clover remains a extraordinary discovery that will yield good fortune for the remainder of the finder’s existence. For this reason, the four leaf clover is a symbol for luck and happiness in Ireland and its meaning is globally known around the world.
Chladdagh
'Claddagh' refers to a small fishing village in Ireland’s County Galway that the emblem was named after. The village has since become an extension of the city of Galway itself, but the message paired with its name has lived on for years after.
The Claddagh is a symbol featuring a heart which is supported by two opened hands and adorns a crown.
According to Claddagh.com, the design symbolizes Love, as indicated by the heart, Loyalty & Fidelity, shown with a crown, and Friendship & Faith, as marked by the pair of hands. Jewelry adorned with the symbol is popular amongst those with Irish descent and is often given as a symbol of friendship or embellished on wedding rings.
This year, when you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with green outfits and shamrocks, know why those symbols are so important to the country whose tradition you are celebrating. Folklore with Leprechauns, pots of gold, lucky clovers and an image of love and friendship—what better tradition to rejoice!
The copyright of the article Origins of Irish Folklore in Anthropology is owned by Mary Alice Franklin. Permission to republish Origins of Irish Folklore in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
The four leaf clover is a symbol of good luck.
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