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Irish Gifts of Roots and Blossoms

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Flying over Ireland, admiring the famous 40 shades of green, you could be forgiven for not realizing that plants from the tiny shamrock to the massive oak tree are center stage in Irish culture and folklore – as well as the motifs used on a variety of Irish gifts.

But when you take a closer look at the history of Ireland, you’ll see that while those fields are on a lot of postcards, many other shades of greenery are deeply rooted in Celtic culture.

Shamrock

The shamrock is the first plant to spring to mind when we think of Ireland.

Shamrocks in a Field

Our patron saint Patrick used the three leaves to symbolize the Holy Trinity. The father, son and holy spirit, he explained, were both individuals and part of a whole, like the leaves of the shamrock. The little green sprigs have been central to celebrations of Patrick’s feast day on March 17th since the beginning.

Shamrock traced in the head of a Pint of Stout

Today, the shamrock is iconic. It appears on Irish jewelry, clothing, pottery, accessories, tea towels and pretty much any kind of Irish gifts you can imagine. Clever bartenders even trace it in the top of a foamy pint of Guinness.

Easter Lily

Easter is really two holidays in Ireland. In addition to the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, the Irish commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising. The ill-fated rebellion was plagued by communications problems and instead of expelling British forces, it led to the deaths of many prominent Irish rebels. But the gratuitous cruelty of their executions galvanized the Irish people, and the next fight for freedom did result in freedom from British rule for 26 counties and the eventual foundation of the current Republic of Ireland.

Easter Lilly closeup on white

After the 1916 Rising, the Easter lily (aka calla lily) became a symbol to honor the Irish who gave their lives fighting for an independent nation. In April, people switch their shamrocks for lilies.

Trees

It’s hard to believe, but once upon a time, Ireland was densely forested with woodlands covering 80% of the island. The demand for timber in the 19th century brought Ireland’s tree cover down to a meager 1%.

A Tree lined avenue at The Dark Hedges, Ireland

Pre-Christian Ireland revered trees. Under Brehon Law, people faced serious penalties for harming trees. The punishment was determined by the type of tree. The druids put trees into categories, with some ranking higher than others. Oak trees were particularly important, but they believed all trees had spirits. The tree of life symbol that appears on Irish gifts such as pendants, earrings, and textiles has roots in our most ancient beliefs.

While you can’t go wrong with a shamrock to symbolize your love of Ireland, it is one option in a pantheon of plants with meaning in Celtic culture. It brings new meaning to the term ‘green thumb’!

10k Gold Malachite Shamrock Necklace

Which of Ireland’s symbolic plants grows your sense of connection to your roots? Or reminds you of an amazing visit here or favorite Irish writer, musician or artist? Whichever type of greenery appeals to you, you can find gorgeous Irish gifts to showcase it.

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