St. Patrick, as legend would have it, is an Irish icon. In reality, St. Patrick wasn't even Irish, but he came to Ireland and was made famous by converting the masses to Christianity. He also made a name for himself by driving the snakes out of Ireland....really, just sent them right into the ocean. So all in all, St. Patrick became a hero in Ireland, so much so that there are no fewer than 60 churches and cathedrals named for him in Ireland alone. Perhaps the most famous of these is the giant St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, the grounds of which bear the mark of the site on which St. Patrick baptized his converts. In addition to being a namesake, the Irish celebrate his name and work every March 17. This celebration has been adopted in other parts of the world as a holiday as well, giving everyone the opportunity to be a wee bit Irish themselves on that day.

~AN IRISH WISH~ May you always have... A sunbeam to warm you, Good luck to charm you, And a sheltering angel So nothing can harm you, Laughter to cheer you, Faithful friends near you, And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you. May your joys Be deep and many, May your heart be light and glad, May you have the best St. Patrick's Day That you have ever had.

~THE SHAMROCK~


There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle
'Twas Saint Patrick himself sure that set it
And the sun on his labor with pleasure did smile
And a tear from his eyes oft-times wet it
It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland
And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland

It is said that Patrick had a time of it trying to convince the people he met in Ireland to believe in the Holy Trinity. Reflecting for a moment, Patrick plucked a shamrock from the earth, and pointed to the three leaves on the shamrock, living proof of the Holy Trinity. Since then, the Shamrock has become the symbol of the land of Ireland.


Click on the clover
for some GOOD LUCK!



~THE LEPRECHAUN~


Near a misty stream in Ireland in the hollow of a tree
Live mystical, magical leprechauns who are clever as can be
With their pointed ears, and turned up toes and little coats of green
The leprechauns busily make their shoes and try hard not to be seen.
Only those who really believe have seen these little elves
And if we are all believers
We can surely see for ourselves.

The story behind the leprechaun is that he is a tiny elf-like creature living in the forest of Ireland. With him is a pot of gold, often seen at the end of the rainbow. Should you encounter this tiny elf, run quickly and try to catch him, and the pot of gold will be yours. Careful though, because he's a tricky fellow, and will easily slip through your fingers. His shenanigans and playfulness are known to be the curse of the gold hunters!



~IRISH TOASTS~


May the road rise up to meet you; May the wind be always at your back, the sun shine warm upon your face, The rain fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.

May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.

May the wind at your back always be your own.

May those who love us, love us. And for those who don't love us, May God turn their hearts. And if he can not turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles, So we may know them by their limping.

May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

Catch the moments as they fly,
and use them as ye ought man,
believe me happiness is shy
and comes not aye
when sought man.

May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends gathered below never fall out.



~ST. PATRICK'S DAY CRAFTS~


St. Patrick's Day Candle
What you need:

• Paraffin
• Coffee can
• Stickers, cutouts, confetti
• Pillar candle
• Green ribbon
• Terra cotta saucer
• Acrylic paints

Instructions:

1. Melt some paraffin inside a can placed in a pan of hot water (on the stove).
2. Glue stickers, cutouts, shamrock shaped confetti, etc...to a pillar candle....brush the melted paraffin over these shapes.
3. Tie an appropriate ribbon around the middle of the candle.
4. Paint the saucer of a terra cotta pot white and decorate the saucer the same as you did the candle for the holder...remember to block the hole.

Filter Paper Shamrocks
Supplies:

Coffee Filters
Food Coloring
Eye Droppers or Straws

Precut shamrock shape out of coffee filters. Mix water and yellow foodcoloring and place mixture in a baby food jar. Do the same for blue. Let the children use eyedroppers to drip colors on the filter shape. The colors will run together and make beautiful shamrocks.




Click on the wreath for some
~IRISH RECIPES~







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