March is always the time of year when the winter begins to recede and thoughts of spring predominate nearly everyone's thoughts. Of course, March is also the month that commemorates the Feast of Saint Patrick. Shamrocks then should have a prominent place this month after all, they are not only symbolic of Ireland, they are instructional toots used by the Great Saint Himself to explain the Trinity.
In reality the shamrock is really a three-leafed white clover graced with a Gaelic name. Shamrock is derived from the Irish seamrog and is a diminutive form of clover. Trifolium repens is usually associated with the Irish Shamrock.
A few interesting points:
The Shamrock is a registered trademark of the Republic of Ireland.
The Shamrock is registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization as a symbol of Ireland.
It was used during the American Civil War by the First Division of the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac, also known as The Irish Brigade.
During World War II the shamrock was included on the regimental coat of arms of "The Fighting Sixty-Ninth.
The British Army's Royal Irish Regiment uses the shamrock as their emblem and it is worn as a sprig on Saint Patrick's Day. This tradition was started by Queen Victoria and survives today. Where ever the Royal Irish Regiment is serving throughout the world, it is shipped to them in time for Saint Patrick's Day.
So next time you are interested in picking up a little green for the garden or for a pot on the kitchen windowsill ...consider the shamrock with all of its history and legends as a welcome addition to your home and garden.
