Shamrocks: Beyond St. Patrick's Day
Though shamrocks shine on St. Patrick's Day in the US, I think of this clover species on May Day in particular. In Ireland, May 1 is Bealtaine (or Beltane), an ancient celebration of the sun's life-giving power and fertility. In her book To Speak for the Trees, Irish botanist Diana Beresford-Kroeger writes:
"Shamrock (Trifolium dubium) is a flowering clover that creeps among the grasses and pasturelands all over Ireland. It has been used as a fallow crop by Irish farmers since before the construction of Rome and its small yellow flowers are a favourite of the honeybee.”
Outside the home of Diana's Aunt Nellie stood a Bealtaine altar. "'As the sun rises on the first day of the month of May, it centres its rays directly down the cut stone channel,' Nellie said. 'Out of the darkness of the night sky, a single shaft of light reaches for the altar. As it touches the stone, it looks as if the altar bursts into flame. It is a symbol of all the fires that have helped us in our passage through life's lonely walk.'"
Images: shamrock drawing by Jan Kops.
Folks who identify (and folks society identified) as women have long gathered at the altar before dawn on Bealtaine. "'Just after the fire lands in the mouth of the altar, the shamrocks begin to break out of their winter dormancy and push out their first green fingers of spring.'" At that moment, folks bend to collect morning dew from the shamrocks with their hands. They rub it on their faces, a beauty secret passed down for generations.
Diana writes, "Later in life, I would confirm that Trifolium dibium does contain a biochemical for beauty. The upper area of the shamrock leaf exudes a pair of related flavonoids called hesperidin and hesperitin, most commonly found in citrus fruits. The morning dew holds these beneficial chemicals in solution and, when applied to the face, they encourage blood flow while gently tightening the skin's surface."
I've always bristled at beauty culture (and didn't wear a lick of makeup to my own wedding). Rather than focusing on physical appearances, I'm celebrating the greater vitality and energy I'm feeling as the trees leaf out and springtime flowers emerge--harbingers of beauty, indeed.
As I witness speedy springtime changes and growth, I welcome change and growth in me, too.
Since I don’t see shamrock growing in my neighborhood, I spent time today with its cousin, red clover (Trifolium pretense). I enjoyed a cup of red clover flower tea (removing the green leaves) while I visited the clover plants outside.
The photo below was taken last July; I'm still sipping last year's blooms.
Image: a bowl of red clover blossoms rests on a mulch garden path next to yellow Rudbeckia flowers and my blue muck boots.
