On Saturday, March 2, Farragut dads and daughters celebrated at the Shamrock Ball during one of two dance times, much to the delight of little girls and their doting daddies.
The ticket sales for the dance benefited the Greater West Knox Kiwanis Club and their chosen causes: Girl Talk Inc., a mentoring program, and Family Promise.
So why a “Shamrock Ball?” There are many reasons.
One reason lies in the recognition of St. Patrick himself. Sunday, March 17, is St. Patrick’s Day which is a day observed every March 17, starting out as a national holiday in Ireland because that is the day St. Patrick himself died.
The date was officially made a holy date by the Vatican in 1631 and was supposedly first celebrated in America in 1737 when, according to irishcentral.com, wealthy members of Boston’s Irish community threw a party to welcome newly arrived Irish immigrants.
Another reason is the shamrock has become a universal symbol of all things Irish, because the shamrock is the national plant of Ireland and holds a special place in Irish history. The shamrock is closely tied to St. Patrick himself, Ireland’s patron saint, who is said to have used the shamrock as a visual to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity with its three leaves representing Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Entry to Farragut Community Center decorated for Shamrock Ball
Mainly, the reason to have a Shamrock Ball is to provide an excuse to bring people together for fun which is exactly what these fathers and daughters did many others around the world are doing as this first two weeks of March.
Enjoy this video clip of the action from Gann’s Entertainment (scroll down).
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