Saint Patrick’s Day Google Logo Marks The Holiday With Irish Claddagh Symbol

Today’s St. Patrick’s Day Google logo celebrates the patron saint of Ireland with a green stained-glass style illustration featuring a Claddagh symbol – two hands holding a crowned heart. From the village of Claddagh, Ireland the Claddagh, commonly seen on rings, represents love, friendship and loyalty.

Never actually canonized by the Catholic Church, St. Patrick is known for bringing Christianity to Ireland. He is said to have used shamrocks to teach the Holy Trinity, making the color green and the three-leafed clover forever associated with the Irish Saint’s holiday. March 17 is recognized as the day St. Patrick died.

First observed during the early part of the seventeenth century, St. Patrick’s popularity has spread far and wide, celebrated in numerous countries around the world. Here in the US, St. Patrick’s Day parades in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Morristown, New Jersey date back as early as the 1700s.

While most countries will see Google’s St. Patrick’s Day logo, Google India is celebrating Holi, the festival of colors, giving the Indian holiday its own logo on Google India’s homepage.