Saint Patrick’s Day is filled with parades, shamrocks, green, corned beef cabbage and many other fun traditions. What is Saint Patrick’s Day really about? My daughter will often ask me what holidays are really about. She wants to know what she is celebrating. This not only makes me proud, but forces me to investigate and learn as well.
Image courtesy of Andreas Franz Borchert at flickr.com (scaled and text added)
Saint Patrick’s Day is meant to honor and celebrate the life of Saint Patrick’s. Each year on the anniversary of his death we don our green apparel, make shamrocks, talk about leprechauns and participate in many other fun traditions. What is all of this really about? Who was Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick was thought to be born in Scotland. He had a life of privilege until he was sixteen. He was then kidnapped, taken to Ireland and forced into slavery. Luckily, he was able to escape. He later went back to Ireland and became a priest. From that point forward he spent his days spreading the word of God as a missionary. Although he was never officially canonized, he is regarded a “saint in heaven.”
He is now celebrated throughout the world. In Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated by attending mass. Here in the United States we have created our own traditions.
This year we celebrated by creating a little printable book and creating a fun shamrock hair clip with friends. We will also be having some corned beef and cabbage on the 17th.
What fun traditions do you have to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day?
Learn more about Saint Patrick in the fun printable book I have shared. I have also included instructions for our shamrock hair clip. I would love to see any fun activities you have shared in the comments.
SaintPatricksDayBook.pdf
SaintpatricksDayQuestions.pdf
SaintPatricksDayBook
SaintpatricksDayQuestions
La fheile padraig soba dhuit! Or, happy Saint Patrick’s Day to you!
Hair clip instructions
First cut out two shamrock shapes. We used two different shades of green. You may draw them free hand or print one. One shamrock should be slightly smaller.
Next find a gold button or bead to sew in the middle. My 8-year-old and her friend were able to do this without any problem. You could also use hot glue to attach the pieces.
We then sewed a small metal clip on the back. This could also be attached using hot glue.
Tada, you have an adorable hair clip!
Image courtesy of Shi Devotion at flickr.com (scaled and text added)
You have an awesome craft idea here. I wish I still had time to go out and buy the supplies! I always find it fascinating that St. Patrick came up with the symbol of the clover for the trinity. I don’t think most children realize that!
I love hearing about the history of holidays! I also love theme units and these worksheets and the hair craft are such a great tie-in!
Interesting. I never knew the story behind Saint Patrick’s day. I was wondering the story behind the clover, now I know!!!