St.Patrick’s Day & Your Baby
March 11, 2008 by Eliza Ferree
Filed under Mommy Extras
First, did you know that St.Patrick’s Day was moved from March 17th to the 15th this year. In all of my memory I’ve always thought it was always on March 17th, well last year an Irish Priest had it moved so it wouldn’t interfere with the religious holiday. For those that may not know Monday, March 17th is Holy Monday.
A child’s few years of life is the perfect time to start doing traditions with them. Do you have any traditions to share with your child on this day? For my family every year (the week before) we normally decorate boxes. The night before St.Patrick’s Day we will leave the boxes by a window sill or in the backyard. Why? Legend has it that if a leprechaun comes across an empty box he must fill it up with trinkets.
The legend says that St.Patrick drove the serpents out of Ireland on a hill. However there was one that was cunning, a big black snake, St.Patrick convinced him to go inside a box. Once inside the box he shut it and tossed it into the sea. So, leprechauns are thankful as they are small and snakes could’ve gobbled them up. Which means, any time a leprechaun comes across a box they must put something inside. Course being greedy as they are if the boxes are not found by sunset on St.Patrick’s Day they take the treasures away.
St.Patrick’s Day morning, my kids are eager to run outside to find their boxes. Never once have they missed a treasure. Do you have any traditions? (My kids also make sure to wear green.)
The only thing we’ve ever done is to wear green. When I was teaching school, we would make something. Last year we made shamrock necklaces.
Hi,
I think you must be mistaken. St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t moved. It’s still March 17th, like it’s always been. Your parish might be celebrating on the 15th but the holiday wasn’t officially moved.
- Terri
Thank you for the comments. Terri, I was surprised to hear anything about this myself. My kids came home to tell me, I quickly looked it up, knowing the day is officially the 17th. Apparently some Irish Bishops moved the day to the 15th so it wouldn’t mix with Holy Monday. I think it depends on the town you live on what day it will be celebrated this year.
Out here they are celebrating it on the 15th. (had to tell the kids the leprechaun is coming early this year) From my understandings this won’t happen again for another 150 years. Next year it’ll be done on it’s official day. Talk about a news shocker for me.
I’d never heard of this before. How can they change the date? Wow.
I’d also never heard the story of the leprechauns and the snake. What a fun tradition for the kids. I think we’ll have to adopt this tradition! Thanks.
It’s just for this year due to the Holy Monday, next year it’ll be back to the 17th. Oh and if ya like that tradition stick around I celebrate something just about every month. (I homeschooled my kids for a few years and learned a lot of fun things)