St. Patrick's Day is a Great Time to Teach Kids About Ireland

St. Patrick is a very important figure in Irish history, even though he was not Irish.

He was born in England to a wealthy family, but was kidnapped when he was sixteen and taken to Ireland. It was here that he became a Christian. God spoke to him, told him to leave Ireland. While he was gone, he studied, became a priest. When the time was right, God called Patrick back to Ireland to share his faith with the people there.

When he brought Christianity to much of Ireland, he encouraged those who were already Christians and converted many others from their old beliefs. As a result, the country turned away from the pagan ways and moved forward to becoming a predominantly Christian nation. He helped shape Ireland into the country that it is today.

St. Patrick's Day has become one of the days when people think about Ireland, whether they are Irish or not. He dedicated so much of his life to the Irish people, that he is forever linked to Ireland. Ireland is rich in traditions and St. Patrick's Day is a great time to share some of its rich history and traditions with children.

Find a map of Ireland and together track where Patrick is believed to have lived while he was held captive. Some believe he was held in County Mayo near Killala and ran to England, traveling nearly 200 miles. Talk about how he would have traveled. Ask questions that encourage the kids to use their imaginations. How would they have traveled that far? How long would it have taken?

One of Ireland's traditional symbols is the shamrock, a three-leafed plant similar to a clover. You can demonstrate how St. Patrick used it to teach about the Trinity. He showed how each leaf is like God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, yet all part of the same thing. It helped many of the new converts to understand it better. The shamrock has been used for medical purposes over the years. It also became the Irish's symbol of rebellion against the English in the 19th century. Queen Victoria banned the wearing of all shamrocks on military uniforms and was punishable by death. People began to wear them as a protest despite her decree.

The Emerald Isle is full of colorful music and stories. Spend some time reading some of the tales together. There are many stories of St. Patrick, leprechauns and other Celtic legends that are great fun to read. Play some Celtic music in the background while you are reading to set the mood. Ireland is a fascinating country, with a rich and varied history. What better day to explore this amazing place than on St. Patrick's Day.

Watch the video below to see two brother's performing some traditional Irish step dancing!