Why shamrocks? Why has this small, weedy plant become the face and main symbol of St. Patrick's Day? According to an article written by Michelle Gervais, the number three was always a mystical number to the Celtic religion. Since white clover (shamrocks) had three leaves, they became a sacred plant used by the Irish Druids. Enter St. Patrick. As he traveled Ireland spreading Christianity in the 5th century, St. Patrick used this sacred Celtic symbol to help introduce the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
Now once a year, we use his sacred day to turn our homes and selves (and beer) green. Woo-hoo! This fun child craft uses wine corks taped together as a stamp to make shamrocks. It's really that easy. First you need to drink three bottles of wine ;). Tape those corks together and dip them in green paint. Then let your child loose on a piece of paper.
This was my daughter's first try at stamping. Check out her intense concentration while she figures it out. Eventually, stamping got a little mundane for my her taste. So I got out a brush and she quickly brushed over all her beautiful shamrocks. Oops! Oh well. Maybe this painting will end up in the trash rather than the fridge :).
