St.Patrick’s Day

Every year on March 17^th we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, which is a global celebration of the Irish culture.

Items that are often associated with St. Patrick’s Day are; rainbows, leprechauns, pot of gold, 4 leaf clovers and most importantly the colour Green.

Here are some fun facts you may not know about St. Patrick’s Day:

1. Saint Patrick. Did you know Saint Patrick wasn’t even Irish? He was from Wales.
2. We should really wear blue. For many years blue was actually associated with St. Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick actually wore blue; the colour green only became associated with St. Patrick’s Day after it was linked with the Irish independence movement in the late 18^th
3. Green River. Chicago has been dumping green dye into the Chicago River every year since 1962 for St. Patrick’s Day. It takes 40 tons of dye to get the river to a suitably festive shade of green.
4. There are no female leprechauns. Don’t be fooled by any holiday decorations showing lady leprechauns. In traditional Irish folk tales, there are no female leprechauns.
5. The four-leaf clover. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
6. Patrick’s Day Parade. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade actually took place in New York in 1766.

Celebrate with your little ones with some St. Patrick’s Day fun.

1. Create Leprechaun footprints. All you need is your hand, fingers, green paint and paper. Pour paint onto a plate, make a fist and dip the outside of your fist into the paint and then gently press onto the paper to make a print. Then di your finger into the paint and make toe prints above your fist to form a foot. Or you could simply use your feet. Click here for more crafts https://tinyurl.com/zz25q3d
2. Gold Slime. Instead of a pot of gold, make a pot of gold slime for some sparkly sensory fun https://fun-a-day.com/super-easy-gold-slime-recipe/
3. Eat Leprechaun hats. Children will love making and eating these healthy little leprechaun hats. All you need is cucumber, mozzarella cheese, yellow peppers and honey. For complete instructions click here https://tinyurl.com/zxhp898 or click here for more fun St. Patrick’s Day themed snacks https://tinyurl.com/zjaqem8
4. St.Patrick’s Day reading. Explore some new books about St. Patrick’s Day or maybe some old favourites.

• Hooray for St. Patrick’s Day by Joan Holub
• Patrick’s Day Alphabet by Beverly Vidrine
• Patrick’s Day by Anne Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell
• My Lucky Day by Keliko Kasza
• The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing

“For each petal on the shamrock.

This brings a wish your way

Good health, good luck, and happiness

For today and every day.”

~An Irish Blessing