It is possible to bring the spirit of St. Patrick to your classroom without offending anyone’s religious or cultural beliefs. St. Patrick is a historical figure, who has an interesting life and history. Additionally, the St. Patrick’s buzz is the perfect opportunity to launch into a history of Ireland. Cultural and anthropological studies allow for the exploration of the St. Patrick’s day traditions. Add variety to your reading program by bringing in Irish stories and folklore during the days and weeks leading up to St. Patrick’s day. The adaptation of the holiday in the United States is a sociological and cultural study in itself. Using valid curriculum connections, the art and music of the Celts may be introduced into the classroom.
There are so many possibilities, the choices are limited only by your time, creativity, subject area, and grade. Explore the ideas below, and enjoy the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day with your students.
History connections: The History of St. Patrick.
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations come and go with with a flurry of activity, often overlooking the patron Saint of Ireland to whom the day pays tribute. Patrick was born in Kirkland, Scotland, in the year 387. His parents, Calphurnius and Conchessa. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, his mother was a relative of St. Martin of Tours, patron saint of Gaul. Calphurnius was a Roman officer in Gaul.
At the age of sixteen, St. Patrick was captured by Irish invaders and carried to Ireland. He was sold to a tribe chieftain named Milchu, in Dalriada. He served as Milchu’s slave for six years, tending his master’s flocks in the valley of Braid. It was during his captivity, while tending the flocks, that he spent hours in prayer. He also mastered the Celtic language. While serving Milchu, he also learned of the Druid religion in which Milchu was a high priest.
After six years of labor, and communion with God, St. Patrick escaped and returned to his parents in Britain. Following the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and uncle, Patrick became active in the Church. More than family tradition, Patrick followed what he believed to be the call of God to become a minister. He became a deacon and a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church.
St. Patrick set his fate toward every opportunity of piety and service. He placed himself under the tutelage of St. Germain, of Moroni, where he began what would become his life’s calling of ministering to the Irish. He rose to priesthood, but rather than remain in Ireland, he accompanied St. Germain on an important missionary journey back to Britain. It was on this journey that he experienced the miracles that would ensure his sainthood. A raging sea was miraculously calmed, and St. Patrick visited church relics at St. Alban’s shrine. All the while, St. Patrick had visions of the Church in Ireland calling him back to minister to them.
He eventually returned to Ireland and worked to convert north and west Ireland to Christianity by speaking to them in their native tongue. Many accepted the Christian religion as their own, at some points various aspects of Druidism and Christianity combined. Often Christianity would create a celebration, feast, or holiday to offset the pagan activities of a given season.
It is on the Emerald Isle that St. Patrick is reported to have performed his own miracle, confirming his sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church. It is said that a druid priest raised his sword to kill St. Patrick. Upon lifting his sword, his arm became rigid and he was unable to harm St. Patrick. Much like an Old Testament story of Elijah at Mt. Caramel, St. Patrick attended a holy convocation of the Druids at which he anticipated the greatest opportunity to share his faith. The gathering was covered by thick, dark clouds. The druids tried incantations, offerings, and charms to remove the cloud covering. They could not. St. Patrick called upon God, and immediately the sun began to break through. The conversions that day struck a blow to the Druid religion. In another display of Druid faith versus Christianity a Druid priest floated through the air. He fell and was dashed to pieces when St. Patrick knelt in prayer. St. Patrick contended that the priests and Druids derived their powers from the devil. He pleaded with the Irish to have faith in God. One by one, Druids were converted.
St. Patrick continued to minister and serve in Ireland. As the isle became converted to Christianity he was given great latitude in preaching the ideas of redemption inherent in his religion. He was also given land by former Druid priests which were to be dedicated to God, and upon which cathedrals were eventually built.
Myth and legend surround the man and his ministry in Ireland. Some Irishmen believe that he will return to judge the Irish people at the end of time, because of his great love and sacrifice for them. Indeed, he is known as the patron saint of Ireland, and that is why the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is all about the little bit of Irish in all of us.
Questions for review.
1. Where was St. Patrick born? Did he have any connections to the Church even as a young child?
2. How did St. Patrick end up in Ireland the first time? Who did he work for and what did he do while he was there?
3. How did St. Patrick’s experiences in Ireland as a child influence his future?
4. Under whom did St. Patrick study before becoming a priest?
5. Becoming a Saint in the Roman Catholic church requires great piety, and the performance and confirmation of miracles. What miracles are associated with St. Patrick?
6. St. Patrick was driven by an idea, and a dream. What did he believe was his life long calling?
7. Do you think St. Patrick’s history is primarily truth or myth? Why?
Lesson ideas.
1. Have several encyclopedias and books available for the students to prepare a one page paper on the history of St. Patrick. Have them include St. Patrick’s contributions to the people of Ireland, challenges he faced, and personal victories.
2. Share a brief history of St. Patrick with the students. Have them write a journal as if they were accompanying St. Patrick on his journeys through Ireland.
3. Research more about St. Patrick, and write a paper about positive virtues, morals, and actions that serve as a good role model for us today.
4. Investigate and write about the similarities of St. Patrick’s experience with the Druids and Elijah’s experience with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Caramel.
Make it real.
1. Create a Jeopardy game to review the history of St. Patrick.
2. Beautiful, ornate stained glass windows old cathedrals. Intricate, transparent stained glass pictures can be purchased at arts and crafts stores. Have the students work on coloring a “stained glass” window. Once finished, combine all of the work together to create a stained glass window in your room. Younger students can make one out of wax paper and crayons. The students should arrange crayon shavings on a piece of wax paper. Another piece is placed on top, and an adult melts the crayons with a hot iron.
3. Creative students, may enjoy drawing or creating a 3D cathedral. Supply plenty of pictures for guidance.
U.S. history connection: The Irish in America
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, so how did it end up that on this holy day in Ireland, March 17, that Americans all over the U.S. celebrate?
The first Irish who came to America came as indentured servants. By this time, the Irish were impoverished because of British colonization of the island. They came to America seeking a new chance in life. In 1845, disaster struck when crop after crop turned up rotten. Without their cash crop, and their primary food staple the Irish were in trouble. They immigrated to the U.S. in droves to escape famine. Those who stayed were determined to starve and die on their own land.
The first wave of immigrants began to work and earn money to send for their family. The peasants came empty handed, and willing to take whatever job they could find. America was in the business of building canals at the time, and the Irish picked up their shovels. Industry was beginning to grow in America, and many aspiring Americans were finding their fortune in business and industry, or were struggling on their own in agriculture. The Irish lacked knowledge and skill to join in the industrial revolution. They made their way at hard labor jobs with low pay.
The Irish stuck together, because from the start Americans feared them. Not only did they work the hardest jobs, their living conditions were crowded and unsanitary. Many fights broke out because of the conditions the Irish had to tolerate. Americans looked down on the Irish because of their living conditions, culture, and lifestyle.
The Irish were poor financially, but they tended to settle in clusters where other Irish lived for support and survival. Their unity allowed them to remain rich in culture, religion, and heritage. These characteristics, along with their strength and tenacity to overcome adversity are what we celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day. From a people scorned in America, the Irish have become a people to whom we can look for strength, hard work, and spirituality. This is worth celebrating.
Lesson ideas.
1. Research the potato famine and the history of Irish immigration to the U.S.. Write a one page summary.
2. Use real potatoes to drive home important points about the Irish and their you organize this early, you may be able to sample some recipes on St. Patrick’s Day.
3. Gather plenty of recipe books. Have the students pick a recipe made with potatoes. Compile a recipe book. If you assign this in advance, you may want to have a “Taste of Ireland” day.
4. Research immigration to the U.S. in the late mid to late 1800’s. How were different groups of immigrants similar to the Irish? How were they different?
5. Imagine you are the son of an Irish immigrant who has gone ahead to America to find work, and pay passage for the family to America. What is it like in Ireland during the famine? What are your responsibilities? How do you feel? What is your outlook?
Language Arts Connections.
Vocabulary (Use as appropriate for grade level).
1. marauders – pirates
2. Gaul – in ancient times, what is known today as France
3. bishop – spiritual supervisor
4. Trinity – the Christian belief of the threefold character of God
5. invocation – prayer
6. incarnation – living embodiment of a Deity
7. indentured servants – worked in exchange for housing and food
8. potato famine – 1845, Irish potato crops were rotten, forcing immigration to American for survival
9. stereotype – a simple standard impression of a group
10. Druids – order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain; portrayed as prophets and sorcerers in legend and mythology
11. jigging – Irish dance
12. immigrant – a person who moves to another country, usually for permanent residence
Poetry
St. Patrick only completed two written works in his lifetime. Among his recorded prayers are “St. Patrick’s Breast-Plate” as follows:
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgment Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels.
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God’s Power to guide me,
God’s Might to uphold me,
God’s Wisdom to teach me,
God’s Eye to watch over me,
God’s Ear to hear me,
God’s Word to give me speech,
God’s Hand to guide me,
God’s Way to lie before me,
God’s Shield to shelter me,
God’s Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
Questions based on St. Patrick’s Breastplate:
1. Based on his prayer, what did St. Patrick believe about his God? What attributes or characteristics did his God possess?
2. Who or what were the enemies he prayed against?
3. How does St. Patrick’s life story relate to his prayer? Can you draw any connections between his life experiences and his prayer?
4. Based on the prayer, what expectations do you think St. Patrick has of his God?
5. How does St. Patrick describe God, using poetic language?
Myths & Folklore
Find a book of Irish tales. Share one or two with the students. Stories of fairies, heroes, and saints fill the myths and legends of Ireland. There are so many great stories, you may have difficulty choosing one or two. You may find some stories that you would like to incorporate into your reading curriculum.
The following website has stories, myths, and legends to choose from: http://www.irelandnow.com/myths.html
You may want to select something by Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, or any of many other well known Irish writers.
Make it Real:
Have students find Irish stories prior to the day you study the Irish and St. Patrick’s Day. Allow them to share with the class.
Cultural Connections.
The use of symbolism in our culture is important to understand. Signs and symbols are often used in place of words to represent an ideas or concepts. This idea can be explored using the symbols of St. Patrick’s Day.
shamrock – Said to have been used by saints of Ireland to teach about the Trinity of their God
Green – the color that represents the Emerald Isle; called such because of its lush green, rolling hills — It is also a color that represents growth and hope
Beer drinking – a part of most St. Patrick’s Day celebrations; a celebration of the culture of the Irish from whom we get many fine ales
parades – another celebration and memorial of Irish culture
leprechauns – creature of Irish mythology; it is considered a type of male fairy, which is another common character in Irish legends
You may want to brainstorm other symbols associated with the holiday and investigate their meaning.
Extra Credit Challenge
Challenge students to find the meaning of “Erin go Bragh” – long live Ireland
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11554a.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Irish.html
http://www.usna.edu/EnglishDept/ilv/iramer.htm
http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprechaun
http://www.dictionary.reference.com
