I’m not sure where the whole leprechauns for St. Patrick’s Day thing came from but they have NOTHING to do with him.
Like elves and Christmas, leprechauns have become the generic non-religious alternative to the real reason we celebrate the holiday (holy days).
That said, there is no lack of wonderful things to explore to celebrate the real St. Patrick.
Below are some St. Patrick’s Day books, songs, recipes and more to celebrate the man who brought Christianity to Ireland — all leprechaun free!
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
–from St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Something to Read about St. Patrick
Something to Listen To about St. Patrick
Audio Story about St Patrick from Story Nory
Collected Works of St. Patrick on Librivox
Something to Sing about St. Patrick
The Breastplate of St. Patrick is a lovely hymn based on St. Patrick’s writings (also called Deer’s Cry or the Lorica). I love this contemporary version by Steve Bell. A more traditional version by Celtic Woman is below.
Something to Eat for St. Patrick’s Day
Colcannon – potatoes, bacon/ham, cabbage
Your St. Patrick’s Day can be totally leprechaun and rainbow free! Celebrate the day by honoring a man who made a tremendous impact on a nation and our world. Enjoy these St. Patrick’s Day books, songs, recipes and more!
Looking for More Holiday Ideas?
5 Fresh Ideas for Martin Luther King Jr Day
7 Advent Reading Ideas for Mom
Favorite Christmas Books That Stand the Test of Time
This is so cool. There’s so much more to ST. Patty’s day than what I hear about. Thanks for sharing!!!
Our church sings St. Patrick’s Breastplate several times a year. It is one of our favorites! Here’s a video of the version we sing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knY-obH9ZoY
Leprechauns are actually closely tied to Saint Patrick’s conversion of Ireland to Christianity. In old Irish folklore, they were little cranky fairies who played tricks on men. It’s theorized that just as with many countries that were converted to Christianity, the local folklore and legends and traditions were used as a way to ease the transition. The shamrock, a symbol of good luck, was transformed to represent not just luck but also the Holy Trinity. Along with it came the story of the Leprechaun and his rainbow pot of gold. So while not related to St. Patrick himself, Leprechauns were part of the folklore that was brought along with that religious conversion. Because green hills and clovers and fairies are such a huge (and recognizable) part of the rich history of Ireland, they’ve stayed at the forefront of the holiday that Ireland is best known for.