Saint Patricks Day: Holiday Decorations, Shamrocks, Leprechauns And Irish Flag

Saint Patrick's Day is a holiday marked in Irish symbolism and mythology. Leprechauns, shamrocks and the color green are the hallmarks associated with this Irish holiday. This day is celebrated on March 17, the anniversary of the death of the Christian missionary Patricius who became a patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world in distinctive ways. For Ireland, this national holiday is a non-secular event devoted to a spiritual resurgence which includes prayers and church masses.

The U.S. celebrates Saint Patrick's Day with secular activities that include dressing in green attire, drinking beer and participating in parades. These non-Irish participants identify with the Irish culture by displaying familiar Irish symbols. These symbols serve as holiday decorations in many homes, bars and restaurants during Saint Patrick's Day. Some examples of these holiday decorations are shamrocks and leprechauns cut-outs displayed in school windows and banners hanging proudly in restaurants and bars. The Irish flag is also often seen on the lapel of participants of the holiday.

The shamrock, a three-leaf clover associated with good luck, is one of the most recognizable symbols of Ireland. It is said that Saint Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the holy trinity when he was attempting to convert the Irish to Christianity during his missions. Shamrocks remain an important symbol to both Ireland and the U.S. on Saint Patrick's Day.

Irish flags represent a genuine facet of Saint Patrick's Day and they are the most important aspect of any celebratory event. As the official flag of Ireland, this green, white and orange representation of this country boasts of Irish pride. Often seen waving in Saint Patrick's Day parades, Irish flags have a vital place Saint Patrick's Day holiday events.

Familiar holiday decorations displayed prominently during Saint Patrick's Day are the mythological leprechauns. These nationally recognized characters are said to be fairies that are small in stature with a proclivity for gold. Parades around the country have floats with leprechauns, or grand marshals who happen to be dressed as such. The legend of the leprechaun tells a story of shoemaking man with impish personalities and a love of Irish brew. This legendary figure has become a significant icon of Saint Patrick's Day in U.S. celebrations and is one of the most common Irish holiday decorations.

Saint Patrick's Day at one time was steeped in religious conviction in accordance with the life of patron Saint Patricius. He is celebrated as a man of religious conviction who in return helped his persecutors. Over the years, within the U.S., the holiday has been transformed into a celebratory event that appreciates and identifies with the Irish culture. Holiday events are marked by Irish flags flying over places they would not normally wave, and leprechauns and shamrocks strewn on surfaces as window decals or t-shirt graphics. This is the time of the year that green becomes the color of choice. All of these instances prove one thing: Saint Patrick's Day is the one day when everybody becomes Irish.


Sources:
"About St. Patrick." St. Patrick's Day. 2007. 29 Oct. 2007. http://www.st-patricks-day.com/about_saintpatrick. asp.

"History of St. Patrick's Day." The Holiday Spot. 2007. 29 Oct. 2007. http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/historyofpat rick.htm.

"Leprechauns." Ro's Abode. 2007. 29 Oct. 2007. http://rosalin.tripod.com/chaun.html.

"Shamrock." Wikipedia. 25 Oct. 2007. 29 Oct. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamrock.