What is the Meaning Behind St. Patrick’s Day?

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya’! Not morning? Well, then, ‘top o’ the evenin’ to ya’.

No matter the time, who doesn’t want to have a wee bit of Irish fun on St. Patrick’s Day? As the harsh winter winds give way to all things green (and maybe even some gold, red, orange, purple, and blue, too), a special liveliness fills the air. Pots of gold twinkle at the end of the rainbow. Leprechauns leave their lil footprints on desks as they sneak around in the wee hours of the night. Even BIG footprints may scuff up the floor as your students imagine themselves throwing the winning three-pointer in the March Madness playoffs!

So, why not direct that energy into some March writing? St. Patrick himself can even add a bit of luck with that!

What is St. Patrick’s Day?

Each year, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17, the day on which St. Patrick died in the fifth century. The religious holiday originated in Ireland over 1,000 years ago. The day occurs during the Christian Lent season, during which Irish families typically attended church in the mornings and would have celebrations in the afternoon. The traditional prohibitions of meat were removed, and the people would dance, drink, and eat Irish bacon with cabbage. Emigrants of Ireland eventually brought the holiday to the United States. Some of the first St. Patrick’s Day parades in the U.S. occurred in Boston and New York City in the 18th century.

Who was St. Patrick?

Believe it or not, St. Patrick was NOT born in Ireland. In fact, he was born in Britain, clear across the Irish Sea. At the age of 16, life took a turn for the worse, though, when he was captured by pirates and taken to Ireland to work as a slave. For six years, he tended flocks in the Valley of the Braid, often in very harsh conditions with little food or clothing. Lonely and afraid, he turned to faith to help him survive. After having a dream about a boat waiting for him, Patrick escaped, trekking some 200 miles to the coast. Three days later, after catching the ship, he arrived back home in Britain.

So if Patrick weren’t Irish, why is he so famous in Ireland? One very popular legend shares that after fasting atop a mountain, St. Patrick descended and met up with several very evil and menacing looking snakes. Not in the mood for trouble, he chased them into the sea, banishing them from Ireland forever. Another tale tells about how while preaching, St. Patrick used a walking stick made of wood. Each time he spoke, he thrust the stick into the ground. One time, he preached so long, it grew into a tree! Too far fetched?

Okay, then, perhaps the most popular legend (and one for which we definitely remember on St. Patrick’s Day) has to do with the shamrock. After many years, Patrick became a missionary and remembered how God helped him escape hardship. Realizing how lucky he was, he decided to travel back to Ireland to help the poor, sick, hungry and lost. In that work, the story goes on to tell that Irish townsmen were having trouble understanding some of Patrick’s religious teachings. So he took a three-leaved clover or shamrock to demonstrate the Trinity or three parts of God.

And now you know!

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, how fun to leave you with a joke!

What did the baby leprechaun find at the end of the rainbow? A potty gold

All joking aside, you won’t need any leprechaun luck when incorporating these Rockin Resources into your instruction. From the St. Patrick’s Day Door Décor to the March Writing Bundles and more, students will light up imagining what to wish for after finding a four-leaf clover. They’ll take on a leprechaun’s point of view through lyrics and even learn what it’s like to kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland! For March Madness enthusiasts, students can ‘score’ while convincing the NCAA to see their side!

Whether used as part of centers, writing circles, on bulletin boards, or in portfolios, your students will absolutely love exploring all these ‘good as gold’ March resources!

Dive deeper into Irish culture with these fun, informative, and holiday-themed texts for this upcoming St. Patrick’s Day! FOR A FULL LIST OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY BOOKS, CLICK HERE!

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Keep Rockin’,