When homeschooling your child, it is important to cover the purpose of celebrated holidays as they occur. Often, this information is not outlined in their text books or organized curriculum. However,holidays are an important part of our culture and usually pertain to a lesson in history. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 16th in Ireland and abroad. Parades, feasts, and religious traditions are all part of this celebration that honors the life of St. Patrick.

St. Patrick is a patron saint of the Catholic religion. He was a real live person, born in Roman Britain around 400 AD. Captured during the attack of his village, at the age of 14, St. Patrick was taken to Ireland where he was enslaved for 8 years. It was during this enslavement and times of solitude that St. Patrick found God. At the age of 22, he escaped, and as the legend states, was then directed by an angel to spend the next 12 years in a Montessori near Paris,France. At the age of 30, he returned to Ireland as a missionary to help the remaining slaves. Journeying far and wide, he baptized the Irish people by the masses and eventually was successful in turning Ireland to Christianity. Initially St. Patrick’s Day began as a Catholic holiday, but today it is referred to as “an Irish day” and has evolved into more of a secular holiday.

Saint Patrick’s Day themes include the color green, shamrocks, and Leprechauns. Incorporating these things into your homeschooling lessons is not only fun for children, but also helps them to remember the things that are taught. You can find numerous unit lessons and resources online that provide history and creative activities for teaching the meanings and traditions of St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you are making Irish recipes, creating green decorations, or discussing the meaning of this celebrated tradition, be sure to incorporate a St. Patrick’s Day lesson into your homeschooling routine.