For as long as I can remember our family has adorned sparkly green garb, ate corned beef hash with baked cabbage, and danced to Celtic cd’s and tunes like MacNamara’s Band by Bing Crosby to celebrate our Irish Heritage. Though we’d tip our hat to good ole Ireland as often as we could throughout the year March was OUR month! With a quick trip to your local dollar store, you can create some new traditions with your family.
But First, the Music
The music of Ireland was passed down for generations orally. Francis O’Neill, an Irish immigrant, is known for saving Irish Folk music by documenting and publishing collections of dance and song. You can find his books of sheet music on Amazon if you’re inclined to fiddle a tune, or you can check out Pandora’s Irish Traditional Radio station and simply dance the night away listening to modern recordings of traditional songs. Jump onto your favorite music provider and score the Top ‘O the Morning album by Bing Crosby if you’re looking for that old Hollywood feel, it has all the classic favorites from my childhood; Danny Boy, When Irish Eyes are Smiling, and Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra to name a few. You’ll also need a good album to practice your Riverdancing. Lucky for you, a 25th-anniversary album was released in 2019 and contains all the greats from their shows.
The Colors
Often expressed in jest as a giant green bow and a scraggly orange beard, these colors actually represent Roman Catholics in green, Protestants in orange, and white between to remind us of the union of both groups. We have a flag mount at the front of our home where we like to display the flag of Ireland in March. Weather permitting of course.
The Shamrock
It’s said that St. Patrick used the shamrock, three leaves rather than four, to teach followers about the Holy Trinity. This has become the most recognized symbol from Ireland and a staple for decorating in March. We like to create a lovely garland from plastic tablecloths and glitter paper to decorate our entryway.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 green plastic tablecloth
- 1 white plastic tablecloth
- 1 orange (or gold) plastic tablecloth
- Pencil
- Scissors
- A handful of green glitter cardstock
- Glue gun
- 2 – 3m command hooks, small
- Twine, or Ribbon in the length needed to fit your space
We’ll be combining our colors and three-leaf clovers to make the festive garland.
Step 1: Measure your space to determine the length of your garland; don’t be too generous with the length of your twine, the weight of your tassels will pull it down some. Make a slipknot or tied loop on each end to hang on your hooks.
Step 2: Fold your tablecloths in half (short ends together) and layer them on top of one another. Then, with your keen eyesight, cut 2” strips from the edges to the fold. Reserve any leftover strips that are greater than two inches, we can use that later.
Step 3: Cut each strip into lengths of 7 inches. This will give us 6” tassels. You can have your littles help here by sorting all the colors and grouping three strips of each color to form one tassel.
Step 4: Secure your twine to a chair, table leg, or the toe of your child if they can sit still long enough. Then loop your groups; ends together to create a loop, position loop over the twine and pull ends through the loop to create a slidable but sung tassel. Continue adding groups until all strips are used up.
Step 5: Freehand a three-leaf clover or use my free template here to create a stencil. Trace as many clovers as your paper count allows. Cut out your glitter shamrocks and plan their placement on your garland. When you’re happy with your design, add one dab of glue to your loop and press your shamrock down. Be sure not to add too much glue, the heat can melt the plastic and run over to your twine preventing it from sliding.
Step 6: Hang your command hooks and place your garland! When you’re ready to take it down slide your tassels to the center and wrap your twine carefully around them to store.
Bonus: If you’ve got extra strips simply tie little bows to add to your garland.
The Leprechaun
Known as fairies of mischief these little men sport a top hat, full beard, green suit, and gold buckles on their shoes. It’s told they hide pots of gold at the end of a rainbow and will grant their captors three wishes. Kids often recall the leprechaun that collects marshmallows for their favorite cereal and can’t think of another. My mother would dust off the old VHS copy of Darby O’gill and the Little People to get us into the spirit each year—it’s a classic you should watch with the family and a fun way to introduce a new leprechaun if they’re not already familiar. If Darby doesn’t keep their attention long enough you can make your own Lepregnome like ours.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 Clean, old sock
- 1 empty toilet paper roll
- Glue gun
- Scissors
- 2 cups of uncooked rice or beans
- 1 pkg craft fur in orange (red or yellow work too)
- 2 pcs of green glitter, or plain craft paper
- Scrap of gold glitter, or plain craft paper
- 1 tan (or white) craft pom-pom
Step 1: Fill your sock with rice or beans, tie off at the end.
Step 2: With the tie at the top, glue your orange fur onto your sock; make sure your base is free of fur but that the fur covers all visible white from your sock.
Step 3: Cut your paper roll in half to make the top hat. For a tapered look, after cutting in half, spit the roll on and tuck one side so it makes a smaller circle on one end resembling a cone shape, glue in place. Cover the hat with glitter paper. Then cut two circles to make the base and top of the hat. Make sure your base circle is wide enough and that your top circle will fit inside the top of the hat. I like to add glue notches to make it more secure. You can download the template here.
Step 4: Glue the hat and nose onto your Lepregnome.
Step 5: Cut out 2 – ¾ inch strips of green paper, make an accordion fold for the legs, add two small circles for the shoes, and add gold squares on the shoes for the buckles. Attach legs to the bottom of your Lepregnome with hot glue.
The Food
Our festive meals are not so traditional. Rather than cooking a traditional Bacon and Cabbage meal, we opt for convenience and picky pallets by heating canned corned beef hash on the stove and baking salt ‘n pepper cabbage steaks. You can find the traditional recipe, known as Ireland’s favorite meal, on the Irish Central website.
These lovely traditions started by my mother to help my brother and I feel more connected to our roots were magical. I’ll never forget dressing up, crafting, and singing my heart out while celebrating our Irish roots. After all, it’s all about the connections we make and the memories we keep that keep the magic alive.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
