Last Updated on March 11, 2023 by Ellen Christian
St Patricks Day history for kids doesn’t have to be all rainbows and gold. Learn the St Patrick’s Day history for elementary students.
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St Patricks Day History for Elementary Students
So, while it’s nice to include some of the popular stories and legends as well, I’d rather they knew the facts about the holiday first. This post is a little bit of both things.
Keep reading to learn how you can explain the St Patricks Day history for elementary students and young children.
Check out these St. Patrick’s Day Holiday Worksheets or these St. Patrick’s Day coloring bookmarks.
What is the history behind St. Patrick’s Day?
This day is the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland named St. Patrick. Patrick wasn’t born Irish. He was brought to Ireland as a slave after he was kidnapped.
He escaped back to Britain to be with his family. While there, a voice told him to go back to Ireland. Finally, he was ordained as a priest and spent the rest of his life working to bring Christianity to Ireland.
Some people claim that Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. However, science has proven that there never were any snakes in Ireland because of the cold climate.
So, it’s thought that the word snakes in this legend actually represent driving out the pagan ways when he introduced Christianity.
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Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day for kids?
St. Patrick’s Day is the national holiday of Ireland and we celebrate it each year on March 17 because this is the day he is rumored to have died. In the United States, many people of Irish descent celebrate this holiday because it plays an important part of their cultural history.
What brings you good luck on St. Patrick’s Day?
People search for four-leaf clovers which are very rare. You are very lucky if you actually find one.
A shamrock is actually a three-leaf clover-like plant. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).
I’ve never actually found one but I still search for them.
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What is the color of St. Patrick’s Day?
Traditionally, the color we wear on this day is green. Ireland is known for its green shades of grass and the shamrock is green as well.
However, historians say that his color was actually a light blue and it can be seen in their coat of arms.
When explaining the St Patricks Day history for elementary students, try to share both the legend and the real facts behind the holiday.
What is the legend behind St. Patrick’s Day?
So, Irish legend says that there is a small Irish fairy called the leprechaun. He wears pointed shoes, a hat, and a leather apron.
According to the legend, he’s very unfriendly and lives alone in the forest guarding his pots of gold. The story says that if you find a leprechaun, he will have to tell you where his gold is hidden.
If you look away for even one second, the leprechaun will disappear along with all his gold.
Legend has it that if you wear green on this holiday, the leprechaun cannot see you. If you don’t wear green, he can see you and will give you a pinch.
So, that’s why we pinch people who do not wear green on this day.
What types of Irish food should we eat?
Why not make these shamrock gummies while you explain about this holiday.
Now that you know the facts and legends of around this holiday, you can choose what you share in this St Patricks Day history for elementary students.
More holiday fun
Finally, now that you’ve learned all about the St Patricks Day history for elementary students, you might want to read these for more holiday fun.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
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