Everyone loves St. Patrick’s Day: on March 17th, the Chicago River flows green, the Great Wall of China follows suit, and even astronauts floating in space find ways to celebrate! As Catholics, we know that St. Patrick’s Day commemorates the feast day of the bishop who lived in Ireland during the fifth century A.D. The question for parents is, how can this year’s festivities not only be fun, but also get kids engaged in the Catholic roots of the celebration?
Along with some cool history on how St. Patrick’s Day came about, here are five ways that families with kids can get more excited about St. Patrick’s Day.
Part One: Getting to know St. Patrick
Did you know St. Patrick didn’t start out as Patrick at all? His original name was Maewyn Succat—isn’t that a mouthful!
Maewyn grew up in ancient Roman Britain. When he was a teenager, he fell into the clutches of raiders, who sold him into slavery in Ireland. He was cut off from family and friends, living on this island until he successfully carried out an escape seven years later.
Instead of falling into despair, Maewyn’s period of slavery drew him closer to Christ, the only one he could rely on in those difficult times. Once back in Britain, he had a vision about the Irish pleading with him to share his faith with them. He took the dream as a nudge from the Holy Spirit. Maewyn became a priest and bishop, taking the name Patrick, and eventually went back to Ireland.
“Despite opposition from those who felt his education had been defective,” says Franciscan Media, “he went to the west and north—where the faith had never been preached—obtained the protection of local kings, and made numerous converts. …He suffered much opposition from pagan druids and was criticized in both England and Ireland for the way he conducted his mission.” However, “in a relatively short time, the island had experienced deeply the Christian spirit, and was prepared to send out missionaries whose efforts were greatly responsible for Christianizing Europe.”
St. Patrick’s Day Activity #1: An entertaining video about St. Patrick for younger kids
This short 8-minute Veggie Tales clip about St. Patrick is best for younger kids, although I am an adult, and it still makes me laugh. Made to look like a puppet show, this video is a fun introduction to the saint.
St. Patrick’s Day Activity #2: For families with teens, listen to the audio drama “The Trials of St. Patrick”
Think of this like a movie for the ears, not the eyes. Augustine Institute’s high-quality “The Trials of St. Patrick” dramatizes St. Patrick’s life into a story that teens and adults alike can appreciate (parental guidance suggested). With a soundtrack that sounds good enough for a movie, as well as the voice acting of John Rhys-Davies, known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings and Raiders of the Lost Ark, this is a great way to get into the St. Patrick spirit—although you probably won’t be able to listen to it all in one day!
St. Patrick’s Day Activity #3: Bless your kids using the traditional Irish Blessing.
Before sending them off to school on St. Patrick’s Day, use some blessed holy water or simply trace the sign of the cross over your kids’ foreheads, saying the beautiful Irish Blessing over them:
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
You might also enjoy reflecting together on this great, short article about the symbols included in the prayer, so that your kids can understand why the words are so meaningful. And if your kids are open to it, maybe you can ask for their blessing, too!
Part Two: How did St. Patrick’s Day festivities become such a big deal internationally?
In Ireland originally, St. Patrick’s feast day was marked with Mass-going, food, and dancing. In the U.S., the first St. Patrick’s celebration dates back to as early as 1601 in St. Augustine, Florida. However, the holy day became particularly big in the 1800s, when Irish immigrants were persecuted in American society. Making St. Patrick’s Day a prominent celebration was a way for the community to be encouraged.
Today, St. Patrick’s Day remains a beloved tradition. That’s not hard to see, given that “worldwide, over 13 million pints of Guinness are consumed on St. Patrick’s Day, more than doubling the usual daily sales,” according to Calie Herbst, editor-in-chief of Milwaukee With Kids.
One of the most popular holiday decorations, a three-leaved shamrock, was reportedly St. Patrick’s method for explaining God as the Trinity. The three leaves stand for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who together are one God.
As the Dublin Mint Office puts it:
Patrick’s influence ran deep, not just in faith but in the way he connected with the people and traditions of this island. By the time of his death on March 17th, likely in 461, he had transformed Ireland into a predominantly Christian society. His legacy was so profound that he became a figure of national pride, and we have celebrated him as a hero ever since.
Given all of this cool context, here come the final celebration suggestions…
St. Patrick’s Day Activity #4: Teach your kids about the Trinity through baking shamrock cupcakes
Not only is this cupcake recipe adorable, it can also be a great way to learn about the Trinitarian message of the shamrock.
St. Patrick’s Day Activity #5: St. Patrick’s Day party
You can’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without having a party! Since I come from a homeschooling background, I also wanted to mention that this can be a great activity for Catholic homeschool groups and co-ops. Here are a few tips:
- Go to Mass as a family/group. Make this an opportunity to grow spiritually together.
- After Mass, party! And if you’re inviting other families or friends, make the party a potluck to simplify your life. If you want to get extra fancy, you can set a St. Patrick’s Day theme for the food. Some staples include Shepherd’s Pie, corned beef, slow-cooker beef stew, and Guinness chocolate cake (yes that’s a thing, and yes, you cook off the alcohol so kids can enjoy). But seriously, don’t forget to bring the actual Guinness for the parents!
- Background music is key. It doesn’t take a lot to make a party special, and a little music is all it takes to set the party mood. You can stream your favorite Irish musicians to your Bluetooth speaker (“All on St. Patrick’s Day” by The Irish Rovers is sure to get your toes tapping), or you can even try out atmospheric Lofi on your TV screen. Ask your kids—I guarantee they know what Lofi is!
Kick back and have fun this St. Patrick’s Day—and don’t forget to ask for the prayers of the saint who makes this day so special.
