Follow Irish Investment Immigration to learn about life in Ireland during the festival:
1. Origin of the Festival
Ireland is a country in Western Europe, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Irish Sea to the east, facing the United Kingdom across the sea. Ireland serves as a gateway from North America to Europe. The Irish are descendants of the Celts, the first generation of inhabitants of the European continent. With a history of over 5,000 years, it is a country with a rich historical background. The landscapes of the country are incredibly beautiful and captivating. Although Ireland has its own language—Irish (Gaeilge), it is the only English-speaking country in Europe besides the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland gained independence from British colonial rule in 1922 and is a peaceful and tranquil nation. Northern Ireland, located in the north of Ireland, still belongs to the United Kingdom.
2. Origin of the Festival
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17 each year to commemorate Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. This festival originated in Ireland at the end of the 5th century and has now become the national holiday of Ireland. As the descendants of the Irish spread across the globe, St. Patrick's Day has gradually become a holiday in some countries, such as the United States and Japan.
3. Symbolic Representation
[Shamrock]
The symbolic representation is the shamrock, also known as white clover or three-leaf clover. Its most distinctive feature is the rounded, oval-shaped leaves that grow in clusters of three, with white spots on the leaves connecting to form a circle, which is regarded by the Irish as a symbol of luck. The origin of the shamrock can be traced back to the 5th century when the missionary Saint Patrick brought the Bible and the Gospel, along with forgiveness and love, to Ireland. He used the shamrock, which was commonly found in Ireland at the time, to illustrate the famous "Trinity" theory of Christianity, which is the foundation of Christian faith. Belief in or denial of the Trinity is the dividing line between orthodox and unorthodox beliefs. The Christian Trinity refers to the three persons in one; these persons do not exist separately but are completely united as one God. However, in terms of divine nature, the Trinity consists of three independent existences—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
[Leprechaun]
Leprechauns are mythical little fairies in Irish folklore who make shoes. They typically wear green clothing, with a leather apron tied around their waist, silver-buckled shoes, and a red hat, with glasses perched on their pointed noses. The most notable characteristic of these shoe fairies is their skill in making shoes, but they only make one shoe at a time and never complete a pair. They enjoy playing tricks on humans and are very quick, able to evade people's sight swiftly. If you are fortunate enough to catch one, it will reveal the location of its hidden treasure to you. However, on the way to dig for treasure, you must keep your eyes on it at all times; otherwise, it will vanish in an instant. Another tale suggests that they hide gold in caves, marked by rainbows, indicating where the gold is buried. The legend states that if you catch a Leprechaun and make it comply, you can force it to take you to the end of the rainbow to find wealth.