The link between Saint Patrick and the color blue has historical and political origins as well. In the 16th century when King Henry VIII made himself king of Ireland, he gave it its coat of arms which featured a celtic harp on a cool blue backdrop. In the 18th century King George created the Order of St Patrick which was represented almost entirely by blue.

It wasn’t until the 19th and 20th century, when tensions between Britain and Ireland began to rise, that blue began to fall out of use in Ireland. Like all things do, Ireland’s identity evolved, so its use of blue lost its prominence. But even today, another shade of blue, “presidential blue” is used by the Irish government and the St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir still wears St Patrick’s blue.

Why Green Now?

Saint Patrick has long been remembered for his use of the three-leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity to 5th century Irish pagans, and that is likely one reason that the color green has come to represent the holiday celebrated in his honor. The shamrock is famous for its distinct green appearance, so its no wonder that its presence in the saint’s story makes the color stand out in our minds.

Also, like blue, green has a long past in Ireland. It is after all nicknamed “The Emerald Isle”, a title it earned for its striking green landscapes. Another obvious connection is the Irish flag, which consists of green, white, and orange. I’ve read that in the flag, green is meant to represent Catholics, while orange represents Protestants with white in the middle symbolizing peace between the two. That being said, St Patrick’s Day was originally a Catholic celebration, so it would make sense that green be associated with the day.

The St. Patrick’s Day of Today