Easy Treats and Activities for St. Patrick’s Day

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Easy Treats and Activities for St. Patrick’s DayHow familiar are you with the origins of St. Patrick’s Day?

St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, is not only the impetus behind the Christian movement in Ireland but is also known for driving the snakes out of Ireland. Well, figuratively anyway. There are actually no snakes in Ireland, and it is believed there probably never were. However, St. Patrick led the movement to convert the pagans (who often used snakes in their symbols) to Christianity, thereby driving the “snakes” out.

It’s actually a three-leaf clover that brings the luck. St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover to explain the holy trinity to the pagans, which is how the clover became the flower of Ireland. In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday, a day for praying for missionaries around the world and for spiritual renewal. Since the United States has a large Irish population, it is widely celebrated here, with shamrocks, pots of gold, leprechauns, and all things green.

Why the leprechaun? There is no reason that leprechauns are associated with St. Patrick’s Day, beyond the fact that St. Patrick’s Day is associated with all things Irish. Leprechauns are male fairies in Irish folklore – often an older, tiny man who is particularly mischievous. According to the tales, the leprechauns are very rich and have many treasures, including gold that they hide in secret places. If you catch a leprechaun, they have to take you to their treasure. But, if you take your eyes off of them, they can vanish instantly.

Fun activities include hunts for clovers, scavenger hunts, coloring activities and other printable activities, or attending a local parade. Perhaps the most fun activity of all is to take your kids on a magical leprechaun hunt (in your house) using mystical Leprechaun Munch to catch those sneaky fairies.

Leprechaun Hunt with Leprechaun Munch

To catch a leprechaun with this munch, just spoon out some and wait for a crunch. Since Leprechauns love the color green, it won’t take long, but while you watch and wait, you can snack along!

Ingredients:

  • Crumbled pretzel sticks
  • Green marshmallows from Lucky Charms
  • Coconut M&M’s (Only green and white)
  • Rice Chex cereal
  • Green Sprinkles

Directions:

  1. Add equal parts of all ingredients into a plastic bag.
  2. Shake well!

When the kids aren’t watching, replace some of the munch trail with gold coins … the calling card of the leprechaun!

The Shamrock Snack

Another easy and festive snack to make with your kids and take for school snack or teacher treats:

Ingredients:

  • Regular pretzels (small – 3 for each shamrock)
  • Stick pretzels (1 for each shamrock)
  • Chocolate bar – melted (may need more than one depending on the size.)
  • Green M&Ms

Directions:

  1. Make your “shamrocks” by arranging the regular pretzels (3 each shamrock)
  2. Place a straight pretzel as a “stem.”
  3. Take the melted chocolate and drop a big spoonful in the center, ensuring that the 3 pretzels and the stick pretzel are bonded together.
  4. Place an M&M in the center and let it cool – preferably overnight.

 What is YOUR family’s favorite St. Patrick’s Day treat?

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Alexa Bigwarfe
Alexa Bigwarfe is a mother to 3 wildlings who keep her on her toes. She is an advocate, activist, speaker, author & author coach, publisher, and podcaster. Her writing career began after her infant daughter passed away at 2 days old and she turned to writing for healing. Since then, she has used her writing platform for advocacy and activism to support mothers, children, and marginalized voices. She began a nonprofit, Sunshine After the Storm, to provide support, care, healing retreats, and grief recovery to mothers in their most difficult time. She is the creator and co-host of the Lose the Cape podcast, which features moms working to make a difference in their children's lives and has co-authored and published four volumes under the Lose the Cape brand. Her primary business is Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to shepherding authors through the massive process of writing and publishing their books like a pro. She owns her own publishing house, Kat Biggie Press, and a children's book publishing company, Purple Butterfly Press - both dedicated to bringing stories of hope, inspiration, encouragement, and girl-power to the world. Learn more at alexabigwarfe.com.

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