Valentine’s Day has flown by and St. Patrick’s Day is already upon us.
In today’s post, I wanted to not only talk about St. Patrick and who he was but also give the kids an opportunity to bring the story alive with my St. Patrick’s Day Wheel.
Kids love crafts and I know your little ones will enjoy assembling, coloring, and spinning the wheel for fun to see images of St. Patrick’s Day.
As homeschool moms, we have a golden opportunity to dive into the deeper meaning of St. Patrick’s Day with our kiddos. Let’s uncover the incredible story of a man whose faith and journey changed the course of history.
Discovering St. Patrick’s True Story
So, let’s talk about St. Patrick himself. Did you know his real name wasn’t even Patrick? It was Maewyn Succat! Born in Roman Britain way back in 385 AD, he lived in a time of political turmoil and change.
When he was only 16 he was kidnapped and taken as a slave to Ireland.
Can you imagine being captured by pirates and taken away from everything you knew?
That’s what happened to Maewyn. He ended up in Ireland as a slave, but even in those tough times, his faith in Christianity never wavered.
Even while in captivity, he continued to put his faith and trust in God.
Here is a fun little video for kids that talks about St. Patrick.
From Captivity to Calling: St. Patrick’s Incredible Journey
While Maewyn better known as (St. Patrick) was going through such a hard trial as a slave in Ireland, he heard a calling from God.
A voice that was urging him to escape his captors and return home to Britain.
It must have taken tremendous courage to cross both land and sea on that journey
Spreading Light in the Darkness: St. Patrick’s Mission
While most people would be glad to get away from slavery, St. Patrick eventually returned to Ireland.
Despite everything he endured, he felt compelled to go back to Ireland, but this time as a missionary and not a slave.
His mission? To spread the message of God’s love and redemption to the very people who held him captive for so long. Do you know what?
It was beyond anyone’s wildest dreams that he succeeded. St. Patrick’s return to Ireland began a whole new world for the country of Ireland. As he ministered to the people he taught salvation through Jesus to the people. This brought in a vibrant Christian community.
With St. Patrick’s Day comes celebrations, wild stories of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and wearing of green.
However, while there is no pot at the end of the rainbow, there is salvation that we can get from Jesus and St. Patrick shares that very story of hope and joy through Christ and him alone.
Follow the link to and download our St. Patrick’s Day Wheel craft so your kids can remember what St. Patrick was all about and what he did that gets him his very own holiday.
The Church:
St. Patrick is credited with establishing Ireland’s first cathedral church at Armagh.
The Shamrock:
Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.
Each leaf of the shamrock represented one part of the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. As a result, the shamrock became a symbol of St. Patrick’s and the Christian faith in Ireland.
Praying Hands:
St. Patrick is shown to be a praying man. Several of his prayers can be found online.
The image of praying hands serves as a reminder of St. Patrick’s unwavering faith and his reliance on prayer in his missionary endeavors.
Heart:
St. Patrick’s mission in Ireland was driven by a message of love and compassion as God directed him. He sought to share the love of Christ with the people of Ireland, embracing them with kindness and forgiveness.
St. Patrick’s example encourages Christians to show love and compassion to others, reflecting the unconditional love of God.
The Irish Flag:
The Irish flag, often called the tricolor, consists of three vertical stripes of green, white, and orange. Each color holds significance to St. Patrick and Ireland. The green represents the Catholic heritage of Ireland, with St. Patrick being closely associated with the spread of Christianity in the country.
The white symbolizes peace and unity, reflecting St. Patrick’s message of reconciliation and harmony. The orange represents the Protestant community in Ireland and serves as a reminder of the diversity and inclusivity of St. Patrick’s legacy, which transcends religious divides.
Overall, the Irish flag is a symbol of national identity, pride, and the enduring influence of St. Patrick on Irish culture and heritage.
The People:
St. Patrick’s mission was centered around reaching out to the people of Ireland with the message of Christianity. He dedicated his life to serving and ministering to the Irish people, despite facing challenges and opposition.
St. Patrick’s deep love for the people of Ireland and his commitment to sharing the Gospel with them are central aspects of his legacy.
The people of Ireland, in turn, embraced St. Patrick as their patron saint, and his influence continues to shape the spiritual and cultural identity of the nation.
The Cross:
The cross is a central symbol in Christianity, representing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the redemption of humanity. St. Patrick embraced the cross as a symbol of his faith and mission in Ireland.
Today, the cross remains a powerful symbol of St. Patrick’s legacy and the enduring impact of Christianity in Ireland and beyond.
I hope your kids enjoy this fun craft on St. Patrick’s Day.
Use the link below and download your free St. Patrick’s Wheel today.
https://fabulous-creator-6271.ck.page/1f8f0daead
There is a colored version and a black-and-white version for coloring.
Cut out the wheels and place the wheel with all the images on the bottom.
After cutting out the wheels, color if desired, and place the wheels together using brad fasteners.
The kids can spin the wheel to see each image and help them remember the story of St. Patrick.
If your kids do this project. Then take a picture and tag me over on IG.