Symbols of Ireland

The people of Ireland, whether native or not, take pride in the symbols that represent their culture. Some of these symbols are famous world-wide, and most are well-known to Americans. Some Irish symbols are tangible items that represent a variety of ideas within the culture. Other symbols are fictitious and fun representations of Celtic mythology.

I plan to provide a little bit of information on a new Irish symbol each day. You'll be surprised at the reasons behind some of these symbols. I'd like to start with the most basic of all of the symbols: the significance of the color, green.

The Emerald Isle (Ireland) has long considered green to be it's national color. Rural Ireland's green landscapes are famous world-wide. Green was the color of sympathy for independence in the late 18th Century when Ireland was still struggling for independence from Britain - so much so the Britain actually banned the "wearing of the green" around that time.

For the past 31 years on Saint Patrick's day, New York's Fire Fighters also wore green berets instead of their usual blue caps. The berets date back to 1970, when the mother-in-law of a Bronx firefighter knitted dozens of the caps for St. Patrick's Day. 2005 was the first year the tradition was banned, as officials decided the firefighters should wear their proper uniform with the blue caps. The firefighters responded by wearing civilian clothes and their green berets instead of their uniform!

An of course, on St. Patrick's day it is common for people in Ireland and abroad (especially those with Irish ancestors) to wear green.


Nicknames for Ireland:

The Emerald Isle - from the lush green of the Irish landscape
Erin - from the Irish name for Ireland (Éire), most commonly used in the expression 'Erin Go Bragh'
Hibernia - Latin name for Ireland
Land of saints and scholars - from the strong educational and religious tradition in Ireland in the middle ages
Poor old woman - from the Irish Sean Bhean Bhocht, a traditional nationalist song (also spelt phonetically as 'Sean Van Vocht')
Silk of the kine - from the Irish síoda na mbó
The Old Sod - faux-maudlin term used by the Irish abroad