St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday for both children and adults. It is one of my husband’s favorite holidays.

To understand what is special about this holiday kids should learn about the man it was named after. When Patrick was 16 years old he was captured by Irish raiders and sold into slavery. During his time in slavery his faith in God became strong. After 6 years he escaped and returned to his family. Patrick became a priest and was later sent to Ireland. Patrick wasn’t always treated well in Ireland and endured many hardships. He still managed to win many converts to Christianity and established several schools, churches, and monasteries.

The color originally associated with St. Patrick’s Day was blue. The knights of the Order of St. Patrick wore blue. Some legends say that the color representing St. Patrick was changed to green because it represented Ireland’s independence.

There are many legends surrounding St. Patrick. He supposedly drove away all the snakes that were in Ireland and he reportedly used a three leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity. He was born in Britain in the fourth century and is usually given credit for bringing the written word to Ireland.
Legend says he died on March 17, in the 5th century. This day celebrates Christianity coming to Ireland. Children traditionally wear green, orange, and white badges to celebrate. Today kids try to pinch each other if they don’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. Many people eat corned beef and cabbage on this day in the United States. However, pork is a more popular dish among the Irish.

St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in the United States in Boston in 1737. Although St. Patrick’s Day is not a legal holiday in the United States, it is a public holiday in Ireland.

Help your kids get excited about St. Patrick’s Day by decorating the house, wearing green clothes, making St. Patrick’s Day crafts, printable coloring pages, and printable St. Patrick’s Day activities.

Here are a few fun St. Patrick’s Day recipes, coloring pages and activites:

• Mickey’s Shamrock Shorts Cookies – from Family.Go.com (image 1)
• St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt – from ParentsConnect
• Mickey Mouse St. Patrick’s Day Pot o’ Gold – from Family.Go.com (image 2)
• Easy Shamrock Jewelry – from PBS Kids
• St. Patrick’s Day Ideas: Homemade Leprechaun Trap – from ParentsConnect
• Mickey Mouse St. Patrick’s Day Hidden Picture Coloring Page – from Family.Go.com
• Clover Hair Pin – from Martha Stewart (image 3)
• Clip-Art Craft: Saint Patrick’s Day Pins from Martha Stewart
• St. Patrick’s Day coloring pages – from Coloring.ws (image 4)