St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
By Sara Duggan
Who was St. Patrick? Was he a leprechaun, a man, or the name of a four leaf clover? Looking around any marketplace today you might be tempted to answer a leprechaun.
With so much of this holiday being taken over by the materialistic business world, you soon forget that this day in history is a day of honor for a well-loved man.
Who was St. Patrick and why do we honor him?
St. Patrick is America’s most well known saint—at least he was just 50 years ago. He is well known in Catholic churches as the patron saint of Ireland.
When he was a young man of about 16 years he was taken captive by Irish Raiders. He was made to watch sheep in a field by himself. This led to him spending a great deal of time fellowshipping with his God.
After about six years he escaped back to his hometown in Britain. Soon, however, Patrick received a revelation from God to return back to Ireland to minister to the very people who had held him prisoner. It is said that Patrick was the one who rid Ireland of its snakes. Although no facts can prove this to be so, it is said that when Patrick arrived in Ireland the second time of his own free will, he was able to banish the infestation of snakes that were believed to dominate Ireland at the time.
Why the holiday?
St. Patrick's Day is held on the 17th of March in honor of his death and is traditionally celebrated by attending church and then partying in the afternoon, with bacon and cabbage being the meal of tradition.
Up until the mid-1970s, this was an Irish National Holiday and even the Pubs were closed in observance of this Saint.
Today, however, St. Patrick's Day is set aside as a day to celebrate life in the present. It is a day of celebration with parades, with parties (drinking green beer), and by “wearing o’ the green” to let all those around you know that you are Irish (or would like to be) and proud of it!
Tips for Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with your Children:
- Find a Three leaf Clover and explain how St. Patrick used it to minister to the Irish natives.
- Visit the St. Partick’s Day Parade website for more information on the first and longest Parade in American history to celebrate this day in history.
- Make a Blarney Stone just like the one in Ireland.
- Make some gold coins as a St. Patricks Day treat
- Print some St. Patrick Day theme paper from www.storyit.com and write a letter to St. Patrick (or to someone else you love).
For a fun and simple game to play with your children, play Pinch me. This is a safe online version so no tushies get harmed. Visit www.storyit.com and pinch everyone not wearing green. If you accidentally pinch someone wearing green you lose a point. Have fun!
Sara Duggan is the publisher of Mommie-Care News for Moms Ezine. For more articles and tips on family activities and crafts visit mommie-care.com. Sign up for the monthly ezine and enter the monthly contest.