More Than An Excuse To Wear Green

You won't need much luck (maybe some prayers) to make St. Patrick's day a fun day for your kids.
I like to start the morning off with the kids waking up to some Lucky Charms sprinkled down the hallway to the front door (or wherever you want). I also like to pretend that we had a leprechaun pay us a visit during the night. I like to have a (pot of gold)hidden somewhere. One year I used those chocolate gold foil covered candies. I couldn't find them this year so I think I'll use lots of pennies. I hope that will do the trick. I also like to serve my kids a green breakfast. Green pancakes or green eggs yum! It's amazing what a little green food coloring can do. Without them looking I drop a few drop of food coloring in clear glasses and then pour milk when the kids see the green swirls I definitely get their attention. Cool Mom! One year I made the whole gallon of milk green (proof that we had an Irish visitor come while they were sleeping) Another fun thing is to do is dye white carnations. Put them in a vase with a few drops of green food coloring and by the end of the day they will be bright green. The kids love to see the flowers drink up the green water.




Of course with all the fun I make sure the kids know the true meaning of the holiday. We usually read the history of St. Patrick and how he used the shamrock leaf to illustrate the Trinity. (I plan to buy a pot of shamrocks at the grocery store this weekend) It will make for a good visual when teaching them.
We can have all the make believe fun we want but I don't want them to grow up thinking St. Patty's day is all about leprechauns, pots of gold, rainbows, etc. It's like the Easter bunny we've gotten so far away from the original intention of celebrating. St. Patrick was a man of faith that brought so many people to the Lord. How is it that it is celebrated by getting drunk on green beer? Strange how that happens.

I'm glad my kids know that Saint Patrick's Day is more than an excuse to wear green, have fun searching for a pot of gold,eating green colored food and maybe some corned beef and cabbage (which they don't like anyway). We like to celebrate the Trinity, an opportunity to learn more about a great missionary, and a time to pray for missionaries who presently serve the Lord.
Do you have any ideas for celebrating St. Patrick's Day with your little lads?