14 Things You Never Knew About St. Patty’s Day

12. The President’s Bowl of Shamrocks

Every year since 1952, the Irish Prime Minister (or some government leader) hands over a traditional bowl of shamrocks to the US president as a means of showing unity between the countries. In the half century since the tradition’s inception, it has become a time-honored, if not highly publicized, tradition. In 1952, however, Truman wasn’t even there to accept the first bowl of shamrocks; instead, the ambassador at the time simply dropped off the bowl and went on his merry way.