The word "shamrock" is an old Irish word "seamrog" which means "little clover." Saint Patrick's Day also known as St. Paddy's Day or Paddy's Day, is an annual feast day celebrating Saint Patrick a patron saint of Ireland.

The life and legends of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, are well known and celebrated both inside and outside of Ireland. However, while emerald islanders may view Saint Patrick's day with solemnity as a holy day of obligation. Other countries celebrate the holiday a bit differently, with parades, confetti, green beer, feasting, painted faces and the wearing of the green. Saint pat's is probably the the most widely celebrated by Irish diaspora, Irish emigrants and their descendants in countries all over the world.

Legend has it that old Saint P. drove out all the snakes in Ireland. The myth persists even though there never were snakes in Ireland in the first place - ever. The emerald isle of Ireland has only one native reptile species, the viviparous or common lizard. It's a bit of a let-down, but the Irish do enjoy spinning tall tales.

Irish Holiday
Saint Patrick's Day Shamrocks

Shamrocks are a central symbol for St Patrick's Day because St. Patrick used the three-leafed clover to demonstrate the relationship of the Christian belief of three persons in one God. An easy transition since the shamrock had already been long considered a sacred symbol of rebirth and eternal life by pre-Christian pagans of Ireland's history. Over time, this symbol of belief, combined with the sacred number three that pagans believed represented the Triple Goddesses Brigid, 'riu, and the Morrigan, gradually changed into the current trinity lessons of today: father, son and holy ghost.

On this day many celebrations, weddings, parades and parties are thrown by people holding dear to their Irish roots collectively celebrate their bending the rules of Lenten, which prohibition the consumption of meat, with dance, drink and feasting on traditional meals of Irish bacon and cabbage. Help celebrate Erin go Bragh and St. Patrick's Day with these coloring book patterns.