English: St. Patrick´s day

17TH MARCH
SAINT PATRICK´S DAY
Watch this videos
Tell at home his story
Read riddles
Do the puzzles
*it´s not neccesary to print the puzzles, you can edit with "paint" and solve them in your PC.

About Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17^th.  In Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Day is both a holy day and a national holiday.  Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland as he was the one who brought Christianity to the Irish. 

According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain about God.  The shamrock, which looks like clover, has three leaves on each stem.  Saint Patrick told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Trinity – that in the one God there are three divine beings:  the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  The shamrock was sacred to the Druids, so Saint Patrick’s use of it in explaining the trinity was very wise.

Although it began in Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in countries around the world.  People with Irish heritage remind themselves of the beautiful green countryside of Ireland by wearing green and taking part in the festivities.

Saint Patrick’s Day is usually celebrated with a parade.  The one in Dublin, Ireland is known to some as the Irish Mardi Gras.  But the one in New York City is actually one of the biggest.  It lasts for hours.  Two Irish wolfhounds, the mascots of the New York National Guard infantry regiment the “Fighting 69^th”, always lead the parade.  More than one hundred bands and a hundred thousand marchers follow the wolfhounds in the parade.

St. Patrick’s Day riddles

1. What do lady leprechauns wear in their hair?
   a rainbow    
2. What do you call a ten foot leprechaun who carries a large club?
   Sir! 
3. Why should you never iron a four leaf clover?
   Because you shouldn't press your luck!
4. What can you find in the backyard in Ireland all summer long?
   Paddy O'Furniture!
5. Which leprechaun wears the biggest shoes?
   The one with the biggest feet!
6. What kind of bow cannot be tied? 
   A rainbow 
7. Why did Saint Patrick drive the snakes out of Ireland?
   Because he couldn't afford an airplane!
8. What do you get when you cross a pillow cover with a rock?
   A shamrock
9. What do you get when you cross poison ivy with a four leaf clover?
   A "rash" of good luck!

Leprechauns

The name leprechaun may have derived from the Irish leath bhrogan (shoemaker), although its origins may lie in luacharma'n (Irish for pygmy). These apparently aged, diminutive men are frequently to be found in an intoxicated state, caused by home-brew poteen. However they never become so drunk that the hand which holds the hammer becomes unsteady and their shoemaker's work affected.

Leprechauns have also become self-appointed guardians of ancient treasure (left by the Danes when they marauded through Ireland), burying it in crocks or pots. This may be one reason why leprechauns tend to avoid contact with humans whom they regard as foolish, flighty (and greedy?) creatures. If caught by a mortal, he will promise great wealth if allowed to go free. He carries two leather pouches. In one there is a silver shilling, a magical coin that returns to the purse each time it is paid out. In the other he carries a gold coin which he uses to try and bribe his way out of difficult situations. This coin usually turns to leaves or ashes once the leprechaun has parted with it.However, you must never take your eye off him, for he can vanish in an instant.

The leprechaun 'family' appears split into two distinct groups - leprechaun and cluricaun. Cluricauns may steal or borrow almost anything, creating mayhem in houses during the hours of darkness, raiding wine cellars and larders. They will also harness sheep, goats, dogs and even domestic fowl and ride them throughout the country at night. Although the leprechaun has been described as Ireland's national fairy, this name was originally only used in the north Leinster area. Variants include lurachmain, lurican, lurgadhan