Ireland’s famous shamrock, the symbol for St. Patrick’s Day, looks particularly beautiful when embedded in a piece of jewelry. From pendants to earrings and rings, we look at the best ways to celebrate St. Patrick in your jewelry.
The shamrock is actually a young sprig of clover. It was used as a symbol of Christianity in Ireland. Saint Patrick was said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity to teach pagans the message back as far as the year 431. He changed the course of Irish history and has a special importance as he is said to be the author of the first document known to have been written in Ireland, marking the transition from an oral to a written literature.
The shamrock was very plentiful and it was an easy visual aid in spreading the message. The leaves had the scriptural symbol of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The leaves were also used to symbolize the messages of Faith, Love and Hope.
Today, the shamrock is an icon for Ireland and is now recognized the world over. It is seen as a symbol of luck or ‘the luck of the Irish’. Each leaf is said to symbolize a different lucky characteristic such as fame, wealth, love and health. As the saying goes “If you wear a lucky clover your true love will come to you. If you possess one no evil will harm you and if you dream of one, you will live happily ever after for the rest of your days”.
Rings from Ireland have a beautiful Irish charm bracelet that includes the shamrock symbol on it and is a great gift idea. The bracelet also features a beautiful Celtic high cross, a map of Ireland, the Trinity knot and a Claddagh symbol and is solid sterling silver.
Ireland’s famous shamrock is also included in an unusual Heart, Shamrock and Claddagh pendant. Handcrafted and available in sterling silver, the pendant has a design of looped hearts linked in to shamrocks and the Claddagh symbol of a heart for love, hands for friendship and the crown for loyalty is at the center. This is an unusual conversation piece and a great way to wear and celebrate the shamrock.
A fantastic way to celebrate St. Patrick, not just on St. Patrick’s Day but all year around, is to wear a piece of jewelry that symbolizes St. Patrick. There is a dedicated History of Ireland collection at Rings from Ireland, which tells the history of the country in 12 important symbols, of which St. Patrick is one. This magnificent collection, which comes in sterling silver includes rings, link bracelets, bangles, Celtic crosses and pendants. In addition to the St. Patrick motif, the other signs include a Circle of Life, Round Towers, Vikings, the Norman Invasion, Battle of the Boyne, United Irishmen, the Irish flag, the Famine, Famine Ships, the GPO and Partition.