St. Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, is a lively holiday, well-known for elusive leprechauns, shimmering shamrocks and bright green clothing. Pots of gold are longed for, rainbows are occasionally glimpsed and hearty meals of corned beef and cabbage are often enjoyed.
And actually, eating a hearty meal is exactly what the holiday entailed hundreds of years ago, when it was established in Ireland in the early 1600s. Meant to honor Saint Patrick and celebrate the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, the day also recognized and honored Irish culture with festivals, church services, green apparel and a great feast.
Over time, Irish immigrants brought the holiday to America, and St. Patrick's Day grew to incorporate humorous elements, like the tradition of pinching unsuspecting folks guilty of not wearing green. This American tradition is believed to have been started in the early 1700s by St. Patrick's Day enthusiasts who perpetuated the belief that wearing green helped to ensure that one was invisible to leprechauns.
The tiny, elfin creatures were thought to be quite mischievous, and according to legend, would pinch anyone they could see GÇô hence the theory that anyone not wearing green would get pinched.
Today, although not recognized as an official holiday in the United States, the day is widely recognized and celebrated across the country.
To help our readers get into the spirit of the holiday, I engaged with several young members of the community in the pursuit of the perfect leprechaun trap. To achieve this, I visited Ben Franklin Craft and Frame Shop (19505 U.S. 2) in Monroe, and got a bundle of craft supplies including paint, construction paper, stickers, ersatz gold coins and glitter.
Next, I filled my trunk full of empty shoe boxes and made the trek up to Sultan where I enlisted the help of Julianna Johnson and her sister-in-law Jamy, who provided me with plenty of enthusiastic leprechaun-trapping experts. I worked with 10-year-old Meagan, 5-year-old Sabella, 4-year-old Dakota, 4-year-old Gavin and 8-year-old Chelsey Patton.
Leprechaun traps involve the utilization of leprechaun-enticing bait, including things like marshmallows and gold. When building a trap, it is crucial to set things up just right, so that any curious leprechauns become quickly captured should they glimpse a well-positioned bit of gold and pause to investigate. Since leprechauns are pint-sized, shoe-box-sized traps crafted with small, strategically positioned holes discreetly covered in shamrock leaves make a reasonably effective trap.
Ladders, which must be utilized to help the little guys climb atop the traps, can be constructed out of Popsicle sticks or balsa wood. And, contrary to the instinctive idea that leprechauns only love the color green, rainbow hued coloring can be helpful when it comes to coaxing the petite critters out of their hiding places.
Leprechaun traps can be constructed quite inexpensively using an old shoe box, green construction paper and decorative stickers. Leprechauns are definitely attracted to bling, so having some shiny glitter or sparkling stickers can be useful when construction traps.
Four-year-old Gavin Johnson was extremely partial to the green glitter glue, which he used liberally while carefully constructing his trap. His deliberate efforts proved worthwhile, and he was greatly pleased with how his trap turned out.
"Mine is awesome,GÇ¥ he exclaimed.
Parents can help their kids get in the holiday spirit by making their own leprechaun traps at home. Often, the leprechauns are so sneaky, they get away right before kids catch a glimpse at them, but might leave behind some glitter, a note or a bit of chocolate as proof that they were there.
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