The international celebration and razzmatazz that is Saint Patrick's Day brings out the green and sparkle in all of us. The world celebrates and Ireland basks in the glory of attention from all corners of the globe as the shamrock takes centre stage.
The Oscar success of Irish actor Cillian Murphy has put the spotlight on the country more than ever and this little island really punches above its weight and it's time to wear the green and be loud and proud!
The focus is often on clothing but jewelry is a great way to shine out and wear that green and give a nod to Ireland whether in a formal or informal way. It makes a great gift or self-gift, whether in the form of a ring, brooch, earrings, pendant or necklace with an Irish or Celtic theme.
The Irish Claddagh is an excellent way of signifying an Irish connection or love of Irish culture. The emerald is a luxurious statement and of course any of the beautiful Celtic knot motifs are the perfect choice. There are also ways to wear jewelry with a nod to Ireland with pieces that include the ancient Irish language of Ogham, a coat of arms or having an Irish language saying engraved onto the jewelry.
From classic to contemporary, from solid gold to silver, here are some ways to express yourself with sparkles and green this Saint Patrick's Day 2024:
A Claddagh ring with a green gem
This beautiful Claddagh ring has a green emerald central stone set as the central heart. With the hands for friendship, the crown for loyalty and the heart for love, the message of the age-old Claddagh is the perfect sentiment for Saint Patrick's Day along with, of course, the added touch of the beautiful green stone shining out.
A simply stand-out Irish bangle
This Impressions of Ireland bangle is a true talking point and will definitely get you noticed on Saint Patrick's Day. It has engravings of the best of Ireland that depict landmarks from across the island of Ireland. There are 13 symbols representing Ireland on this bangle, one of which is Saint Patrick. There's also a harp and a symbol of the island of Ireland, a Celtic cross and much more.
Show off the shamrock - in gold
Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity. The name shamrock comes from the Irish 'seamrog' which means 'young clover'. This beautiful Irish shamrock gold ring is a great choice for Saint Patrick's Day or in fact any day as it's a great good luck charm. The traditional bowl of shamrock will be presented to the President of the USA once again this year at the White House on the big day.
Charms of the Celtic Cross
The great thing about this Celtic cross necklace is that it's double sided which is very practical in addition to being a beautiful representation of Irish and Celtic culture. Engraved on both sides with highly elaborate designs, this is just like the free standing monuments dotted across the Irish countryside. As the legend goes, these crosses first emerged at the time of the Celtic druids to honour the pagan sun god. When Saint Patrick arrived to introduce them to Christianity, he incorporated the Roman cross and used the circle to symbolise never ending love.
Happy La Fheile Padraig.