St. Patrick’s Day started as a religious celebration in the 17th century to commemorate Saint Patrick’s life and Christianity’s arrival to Ireland. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against consuming meat were waived, and people would dance, drink and eat a traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
In the early 18th century, Irish immigrants brought the tradition over to the American colonies. As more Irish came across the Atlantic, the celebration slowly grew and morphed from a religious celebration to a secular one. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in 1737, and the celebration has only grown larger since that first parade.
While the ongoing pandemic is responsible for the cancellation of parades and other group celebrations, there are ways to celebrate at home that the entire family will enjoy. Whether you cook traditional Irish specialties, research Irish history or get crafty, you can still have lots of Irish-themed fun this March 17!
IN THE KITCHEN
Cook an authentic Irish recipe. While it’s traditional to eat Corned Beef and Cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day in the United States, it is not an authentic Irish food. Instead of corned beef and cabbage, the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal eaten in Ireland contains lamb or bacon.
Another authentic Irish food you may want to make with the kids is Soda Bread. No matter what recipe you choose, the best way to enjoy it is sliced warm and spread liberally with butter.
Another baked treat the kids may enjoy is Barmbrack. This fruity tea loaf is traditionally served smothered in butter with a cup of tea in the afternoon. You can find our favorite recipes for corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, and Barnbrack at MontereyBayParent.com.
Eat green foods all day. Instead of going traditional, get creative and serve only green foods for each meal. For breakfast, serve green pancakes washed down with green milk. For lunch, how about an assortment of green vegetables with spinach dip or Ranch dressing dyed green? Dinner can be green pasta. Add a green smoothie for a snack, and your green day will be complete.
GET CRAFTY
Leprechaun pranks. According to Irish legend, these magical elves spend their time mending shoes and making practical jokes and have a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. They are notorious for causing mischief the night before St. Patrick’s Day. Parents can have some fun of their own by setting up a few leprechaun pranks.
Easy pranks include: turning the milk green, leaving green footprints, and turning the toilet water green. You can mix up the children’s shoes or put the toothpaste in the fridge. The kids will have fun discovering where the leprechauns have left signs of their mischief. For every mischievous act, the leprechaun could leave behind a Shamrock sticker to tell the kids who is responsible.
Create a Leprechaun Trap. If your family has enjoyed leprechaun pranks in the past, this year may be the time for a leprechaun trap. The traps are set up the night before St. Patrick’s Day, and children awaken to discover signs that leprechauns have visited the trap.
Depending on the ages of your children, your trap can be a simple box or ornate structure. The traps are typically green and gold and feature the stereotypical leprechaun items: gold coins, rainbows, top hats, and four-leaf clover. Once you build your trap, don’t forget to add bait to help lure in the leprechaun. A note to parents: A leprechaun may leave a trail of gold and/or green glitter, so remind the kids to watch for it.
You can find lots of plans for leprechaun traps on Pinterest to get your creative juices going. Be sure to get your traps done ahead of time so you can set them up the night before St. Patrick’s Day.
Shamrock painted rocks and gold nuggets. This easy craft is perfect for a rainy afternoon. For little ones, Mom and Dad can make the rocks and the gold nuggest ahead of time.
You can find complete instructions on MontereyBayParent.com, but honestly, they’re easy enough to make without instructions–paint simple green shamrocks on small rocks, allow to dry, and then spray with a sealer. The gold nuggets are smaller pebbles sprayed with gold paint.
Once you have a bunch, take the kids on a walk to drop them conspicuous spots for neighbors to find. Or, add them to treat baskets (perhaps a loaf of soda bread?) you deliver to family and friends.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
Explore Irish culture. Use the week before St. Patrick’s Day to read books about Ireland and research Irish-Americans who have made significant contributions.
Here are some beautifully illustrated books about Ireland perfect for storytime:
• This is Ireland by Miroslav Sasek. First published in 1964, This is Ireland brings the Emerald Isle to life, where the shamrock grows and a leprechaun stands at the end of every rainbow.
• Tales of Old Ireland by Malachy Doyle. This collection of seven spellbinding Irish folk tales offers larger-than-life characters, dramatic plot twists and a healthy dose of enchantment. Includes glossary and pronunciation key for Irish terms.
• Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman. The luck of the Irish has waned after the greedy Leprechaun King has taken all the good fortune in Ireland and locked it away. It is up to one cunning girl, Fiona to come up with a plan to help the people of Ireland.
• Let’s See Ireland! written and illustrated by by Sarah Bowie is a delightful picture book featuring some of the famous sights in Ireland. Molly, her parents, and her cat Mipsy tour the country, visiting the Dublin Zoo, Cork City and many others.
• The Irelandopedia Quiz Book by Shauna Burke is just as the title suggests, it’s a book filled with facts and trivia about Ireland. The book is best suited for children ages 10 & up.