Every March, area stores create displays of the Irish Shamrock Plant. I admire the plants and plan to buy one later, only to find when I return to the store that they have sold out. This year, I debated about whether to wait until St. Patrick’s Day to purchase one, as my first, and then realized I was about to do it again! I’m almost certain that by St. Paddy’s Day there won’t be any Shamrock Plants left. There is a saying, “Do what you’ve always done, get what you’ve always gotten.” Time to do something different, and new! For my first today, I purchased a Shamrock Plant.
I discovered that the Shamrock Plant, also known as Oxalis, is reactive to light. It folds up its shamrock shaped leaves when it’s overcast or nighttime, and opens them again when it’s sunny. The plant has tiny red or white flowers and the leaves can be bright green, dark red or purple. I purchased a traditional Irish Shamrock with bright green leaves and white flowers.
The shamrock is known as the symbol of Ireland. St. Patrick is said to have used the plant as a metaphor for the Christian Trinity. The tradition of wearing a shamrock dates back to the 1700’s and it is now known worldwide as a symbol for good luck.
I’ve mentioned my Scottish heritage, which comes to me through my dad’s line, the Lauderdales. I’m of Irish descent also, on my mother’s side of the family, through the McCools and Gregorys. I intend to visit Scotland first, because that country has haunted me my entire life, but beautiful Ireland calls to me as well. The Celtic culture is found in both countries. It will be interesting and fun to see the similarities and the differences between the two. With Irish and Scottish blood coursing through my veins, I’d love to find or create a piece of jewelry with the symbols of the shamrock and thistle entwined. Or I can tuck a shamrock behind one ear and a thistle behind the other and call it good!