Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century. St. Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish, and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a ubiquitous feature of the day. The phrase "the wearing of the green", meaning to wear a shamrock on one's clothing, derives from the song of the same name. A lovely little blue-eyed lassie with beautiful dark curly hair hugging her dog. The young girl is dressed in her finest while lace dress and has an green ribbon in her hair. The text on the front of the card is part of the original illustration and cannot be removed.