Parents can teach children the Christian meaning of St. Patrick’s Day
By Carolyn Tomlin
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated March 17, the date of Saint Patrick’s death in the fifth century. In Ireland this is both a national holiday and a holy day. As the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick was credited as the person who brought Christianity to the Irish. Although not a legal holiday in the United States, the day is recognized as a celebration of Irish and Irish-American cultures. It is estimated that about 39 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry. The day has been celebrated in North America since the late 18th century.
Born to Christian parents in Wales, Patrick grew up on a wealthy family farm.
But at age 16 he was kidnapped by Irish pirates, carried off to Ireland and sold as a slave. There he took care of livestock. As a slave he prayed and committed his life to God. Patrick escaped after six years in slavery. He left Ireland, becoming a priest and later a bishop. Then he returned to Ireland to spread the Christian faith.
Wearing green
Many customs and traditions are associated with this day. Wearing green is one way people celebrate. This color reminds people of the beautiful green countryside of Ireland. The ancient Irish burned green leaves and boughs each spring to make the soil richer.
Cities with a large Irish population often have parades with marching bands.
Many legends exist about St. Patrick. One is that he used the little green shamrock that grows all over Ireland to explain the mystery of the Trinity — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This plant has three leaves, St. Patrick would explain, and yet it is one. Today when people see a shamrock they can be reminded of God.
Legends credit St. Patrick with many miracles. It is said he was able to drive the snakes from Ireland (but the country actually had no snakes). As Ireland is an island and separated from other land, the snakes would not survive in the frigid waters. However, these stories are probably a metaphor for bringing Christianity to the land and driving out pagan religions.
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St. Patrick’s Day craft idea: shamrock placemats
For each placemat you will need the following:
• Green construction paper
• Copy paper, 8.5” x 14”
• Felt-tip marker
• Glue
Directions:
1. Make a heart-shaped pattern from cardboard.
2. Trace around this pattern for each section of the shamrock, making three leaf shapes for each placemat.
3. Form a shamrock by gluing each leaf on a sheet of copy paper. Cut a stem from the paper and glue in place.
4. Write these words on each Shamrock section: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
5. Talk with your child about the Trinity, that in the one God there are three divine beings. Read The Great Commission together, found in Matthew 28:16–20.
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Irish pudding recipe
1 serving
Ingredients:
1 heaping tablespoon
vanilla instant pudding mix
¼ cup milk
1 drop blue food coloring
1 drop yellow food coloring
Directions:
Put the pudding mix and milk in a small jar with a top.
Add the food coloring.
Place lid on jar.
Shake the jar 50 times.
Wait five minutes.
Open the jar and eat.
Explain to the children that mixing blue and yellow changes the pudding to green. When God comes into our lives and we accept Him as our Savior, our lives are changed.
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St. Patrick’s Day activity
Golden Thoughts Chain
1. Cut strips of green construction paper into eight-inch by one-inch lengths.
2. Write kind words and loving thoughts on the strips.
3. Form the first length into a circle.
4. Overlap ends and tape or staple.
5. Loop the second into the first, repeating step 4. Continue until all strips are connected.
6. Talk about how the words we say make a difference in our lives and the lives of others.
7. Display the completed chain as part of the dining table decoration on St. Patrick’s Day.
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