St. Patrick's Day in Oregon, from an Irish person's perspective.
Leprechaun traps with my Kindergarteners
When I left Ireland and moved to Oregon 20 years ago, I wasn’t sure what to expect for March 17. Knowing I would miss home I decided to create traditions of my own. The children in my kindergarten classroom delighted in mystical stories of fairies and leprechauns living amongst the flowers and trees in emerald Ireland. They asked lots of questions about my native country and I enjoyed the imaginative story-telling that ensued around St. Patrick’s Day. I taught these curious 5 year olds simple Irish songs, phrases and poems. We had a lot of fun together. Most exciting for the children was the creation of leprechaun traps - something we would never do in Ireland, because well, nobody believes in, or cares about leprechauns, of course, but I got into the spirit when I saw how eager the kids were to trap, but never harm a teeny Irish visitor.
On the lead up to St. Patrick’s Day my kindergarten class diligently worked on plans for their traps. We brainstormed what was needed (mostly recycled boxes and other useless objects in our recycling area) to create their traps and how best to set them. The children wanted to see a real leprechaun and pose questions, play with them, show them around our room, ask them about magic. They REALLY wanted to meet one. Their enthusiasm on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day was palpable.
For years, in the early morning of March 17, I arrived at the school around 6.45 a.m., a half hour before schedule. Carefully I rearranged traps as if a leprechaun had visited each one, yet had managed to escape. Into each creation I placed a golden wrapped chocolate coin, some green cloth or a doll’s boot, and a golden sticker for the child to discover. When the time came children raced into the classroom bursting with excitement and drawing teachers in from every room at the center to enjoy the scene. Parents delighted in the occasion and kids spent the day searching for clues and more evidence of the leprechauns’ visits. As time passed I incorporated extra tricks and games, and I heard from parents years later who said their children continued creating traps at home on St. Patrick’s Day for several years. One sent me a photo of her child using an axe - his work was advanced and highly creative.
As I no longer teach kindergarten, I don’t suppose I will ever experience the same joy I shared with those kindergarteners on St. Patrick’s Day for nine consecutive years. But I hold the memories close. It helps to see the world through children’s eyes, to experience innocence, hope and wonder. Children remind us to play, to let go of our worries from time to time and to seek out the magic in every day.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh. Bain taitneamh as an ocáid!
