Green

On St. Patrick’s Day the streets of Chicago are swarming with inhabitants decked-out in green. It is a well-known fact that on St. Patrick’s Day wearing green shows your appreciation for Ireland, but why are those two things synonymous? What are the roots and associations with the color green?

Why Green?

· According to some legends the original color used on St. Patrick’s Day was blue. That tradition changed in the 17^th century.

· Green is also one of the three colors on the Irish flag.

· Ireland is sometimes called the “Emerald Isle” because of the amount of greenery in the Irish landscape.

· The tradition of dying the Chicago River green enforced the tradition of wearing green in America.

Other Associations with the Color green

· In England only the elite could wear the color green. Those worthy to wear the emerald color was dictated and enforced by the British law enforcement.

· The symbolic meaning on green is the renewal of nature.

· Green is the second most favorite color of people, behind blue.

· In North American stock markets, green is used to indicate a rise in stock prices, however In East Asian stock markets, green indicates a drop in stock prices

· 
Green has long been a symbol of fertility and was once the preferred colour choice for wedding gowns in the 1400’s.

· Before the 1950's Santa's suit was originally green until Coca-Cola bought him out and changed his suit to red.