A country without a symbol is not a country. And Northern Ireland is no exception to the rule. Its symbol is familiar to anyone who is at least a little interested in the history of the United Kingdom. Shamrock was not chosen by chance. Behind it is a long interesting story, which is worth getting to know.
In order for you to become a little clearer why the three-leaf clover became the symbol of Northern Ireland, you need to get acquainted with another no less, and even more important character - St. Patrick.
Afro-irish british blood
Behind many symbols stand odious figures. Northern Ireland is no exception.
Patrick was born and raised in Roman Britain in the town of Bannavem. According to historical information, we are talking about one of the provinces during the reign of the Roman Empire in the British Isles.
The young man grew up a normal person, without special divine prerequisites and aspirations to know the spirituality of everything and everything. Perhaps it would be so if not for his captivity and subsequent slavery in Northern Ireland. The young man could not endure the hardships of imprisonment for a long time and fled. I must say that it was not too successful, because it was captured and again the bonds of bondage could not hold him.
Considering that divine conduct helped him, Patrick decided to take the priesthood. And he began to preach in Ireland about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And here the shamrock appears on the scene. Three sheets - three hypostases of God. Saint Patrick found something in common in this and, using the example of a three-leaf clover, explained the role of the Divine Trinity.
Today you can see images of a saint who has this plant in his hand. It is customary to portray it in this way. Even on a festive day, when a saint is celebrated, it is customary to dress in green clothes, have fun music parties, generously treat friends with beer and wear crosses made of paper or fabric on clothes. Interestingly, earlier that day all drinking establishments were closed throughout Ireland. But the holiday cannot be forbidden, and the authorities eventually allowed all true Irish to observe the tradition.
And why he is African, it becomes clear when you find out that in Nigeria he is revered no less than in Ireland.
Truth and fiction
Not everything is true that is generally accepted. Shamrocks have their own defenders and opponents.
Not all historians share the version of the role of the shamrock in Patrick's sermons in Northern Ireland. In the writings of the saint there is no indication of such facts. Therefore, it is generally accepted that clover is to some extent a folk fiction that is not true.
Nevertheless, the trefoil began to be popular, and today it is one of the main symbols of Northern Ireland along with St. Patrick himself, a special Celtic harp, a white flag crossed out with red stripes and many others. It is impossible to imagine a Russian without a three-color flag, and a modern Irish cannot be imagined without three green leaves of this simple plant, which played such a significant role in spreading faith in God.
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