Looking for a Pot of Gold at the End of a Rainbow? Search No More!
You do not have to be a leprechaun to have your very own pot of gold! Nor do you have to chase rainbows in hopes of catching one of the little magical creatures and its pot of gold. You, too, can collect gold jewelry and other gold items to secure away in your very own pot by visiting one of our New York pawn shops, where you can buy gold at reasonable prices.
If you already have your own pot of gold, you can get cash for gold by selling it at our pawn shops. Whether you are looking to buy or sell your gold, let’s explore the meanings and traditions behind St. Patrick’s Day and how leprechauns came to be associated with this holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day Myths and Meanings
St. Patrick’s Day was originally a religious holiday celebrated by Irish Catholics. St. Patrick was a missionary who helped convert Irish to Christianity. Originally the holiday was celebrated by going to church.
The festivities we enjoy today did not come about until the 18th century. During this time, Irish immigrants were leaving Ireland to come to the United States. Many of the newly arrived Irish immigrants settled in New York City.
To celebrate the holiday, the Irish community would have a parade every March 17th. Today, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City is considered to be one of the biggest parades in the world!
Why Do We Wear Green?
During St. Patrick’s time in Ireland, he developed a group of followers. Some of these people became part of the Order of St. Patrick, a group of knights. The knights did not wear the traditional green. Instead, they wore a color called “St. Patrick’s Blue.”
In the 18th century, as large numbers of Irish people arrived in the United States, they started wearing green on this holiday. The color green represented their support for Ireland and Irish independence. Over time, the color became a central part of the holiday.
Why Is It Okay to Pinch Someone Not Wearing Green?
Today, whether you are Irish or not, everyone wears green on St. Patrick’s Day. If you do not wear green, then you will probably be pinched. Pinching people not wearing green is a tradition that is associated with leprechauns.
It is believed leprechauns are playful and enjoy playing pranks on others. One of their naughty pranks is pinching people. So, pinching people not wearing green signifies being pinched by playful, yet naughty leprechauns. Better not try it on strangers or at work, though.
Why Do Leprechauns Love Gold?
Leprechauns are an essential part of Irish traditions and folklore. Tales of these magical creatures have been passed down for generations. One Irish tale tells of leprechauns earning gold coins for repairing people’s shoes.
If you left a few gold coins out at night, a leprechaun would come and fix your shoes. To protect their gold from being stolen, leprechauns would hide their hard-earned gold coins in pots at the end of rainbows.
If a person were to catch a leprechaun putting gold coins into its pot while there was a rainbow, the person could demand the leprechaun give the person all of its gold. On the other hand, if people caught leprechauns but decided to let them keep their gold, then those people would be rewarded with good luck for the rest of their lives.
Why Are Shamrocks Part of the Holiday?
Shamrocks are three-leaf clovers associated with St. Patrick’s Day. Originally, the three-leaf clover was used to represent the Holy Trinity that is part of Christianity and the Catholic religion.
Just like other traditions, the shamrock evolved into the four-leaf clover. Finding a four-leaf clover can be just as magical as catching a leprechaun. Based on Irish folklore, each leaf has its own meaning: love, luck, hope, or faith. As such, finding one not only can improve your love life, but also your luck.
Another belief is that, by wearing a four-leaf clover, you can see magical beings, like leprechauns. So you could use a four-leaf clover to help find a leprechaun and its pot of gold!
Interesting Facts About Gold
Another reason why leprechauns hide their gold away is because it is considered very valuable and rare. This belief is actually true. Gold, just like silver, diamonds, and other gemstones, is found in the earth. This means there is a limited supply of gold. Once all the gold has been mined out of the earth, there will be no more.
Other interesting facts you may not know include:
- Gold does not rust or corrode.
- Gold does not tarnish.
- Gold maintains its chemical properties, no matter what form it takes.
- Gold does not deteriorate or break down.
- Gold comes in different colors—yellow, white, and rose, to name a few.
- Gold can be recycled and reused.
For example, you could take a solid gold bar and melt it into liquid gold. You then could use the liquid gold to make gold rings, gold jewelry, gold coins, and so on. The quality of the original gold bar would not change, but simply be transformed into a different product. You could also take gold rings, jewelry, and other items, and melt the gold into liquid form and turn it back into a gold bar!
Another interesting fact is “Fool’s Gold” is not really gold, but a mineral called pyrite that only looks like gold. In fact, it has no real monetary value. This is why you should always buy gold from a reputable dealer like our pawn shops.
What Drives the Demand for Gold?
Gold is believed to have been deposited into the earth from meteorites that struck the earth billions of years ago. As gold has been mined out of the earth, the supplies have been reduced. In more recent years, the quality of the gold left in the earth is starting to decline.
As a result, the gold already in circulation, such as gold coins, jewelry, and watches, as well as gold bars, has a higher demand. This is because this gold is a better quality compared to what is still left in the earth.
If you have been behaving like a leprechaun and building up your own pot of gold, you may be sitting on a small cash fortune. Stop by one of our New York City pawn shops and talk to our gold buyer to find out how much your gold is worth.
Part of what drives the price of gold is supply and demand. When demand for gold is high, but there is not a sufficient supply available, prices increase. When supplies of gold are higher, yet demand is lower, prices drop.
How to Sell Gold Like a Professional
If you want the most cash for gold, there are several things you can do:
- Monitor Gold Prices: You can find out current gold prices by talking to our gold buyer. You will get more cash by selling when gold prices are increasing.
- Don’t Play the Waiting Game: It can be hard to know when gold prices will start to drop when they are increasing. If you wait, prices could drop and you could get less. If you are happy with the amount offered for your gold, then sell it.
- Clean Your Gold: It is easier to see markings that indicate the weight, karat, and stamps. These help determine the value of the gold.
- The Karat of the Gold Matters: The karat indicates the purity of the gold and determines its value.
- The Weight of the Gold Matters: Gold is sold based on its weight.
Hoarding away your gold like a leprechaun can be a good choice when you do not need extra cash. However, if you find you need emergency cash, you will want to convert your pot of gold into cash. Luckily, you can do so quickly at GEM Pawnbrokers. Even leprechauns know they get the best cash offer for their gold at our NYC locations!
Please feel free to stop by one of our New York City locations today, or contact us at 718-596-5626 to speak with a gold buyer now! If you are looking to build up your own pot of gold as an investment for a rainy day, you will also find we have a great selection of items to choose from at fair prices.
Sources
- http://www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-myths-debunked
- www.techtimes.com/articles/38699/20150314/the-history-of-st-patricks-day-is-not-as-fun-as-you-think.htm
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