By Caitlyn Murdock

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up and did you know that shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are NOT interchangeable? I know what you’re thinking… “What?”

The symbol for St. Patrick’s Day is the shamrock which has three leaves not four. This might sound irrelevant but let’s consider the history behind that shamrock. St. Patrick actually used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the people of Ireland. One leaf representing The Father, the second leaf The Son and the third leaf The Holy Spirt to all be God.

In other words, the shamrock is essentially a religious symbol, where a four-leaf clover is not. And while we’re all Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s worth knowing which of the two symbols this holiday represents.

Regardless of how you feel about shamrocks and four-leaf clovers, I hope you have a Happy St. Paddy’s Day! (Not St. Patty’s Day but that’s a topic for another time!)

About the Author:

Caitlyn Murdock is a Federal Financial Aid Administrator at FAS. Outside of work she loves spending time with her family watching her kids play sports and traveling. When she isn’t running her kids to and from their practices she enjoys crafting.