St Patrick's Day

St Patrick's Day a day to celebrate! No matter where you are, either in Ireland or in the USA; even in some other parts of the world, there will be a St Patrick's festival going on. 
During this week I feel greener than ever, this is why I am having an Irish breakfast tea in the morning and an ale in the evening the end up my day. 

Photo by Manu Catman

1st Act: Fill in the blanks below with words from this box (act taken from  @ bogglesworldesl.com.)
celebration monastery Ireland legend ribbons fairy tricky vanish		Saint born dye captured snakes pinched mischief pot of gold	slave angel green eye miracles parades shamrocks
St. Patrick’s Day Chicago's river St. Patrick’s Day is a _______________ honoring Saint Patrick. People wear _____________ colored clothing and some women wear green ____________ in their hair. People who don’t wear green clothing get _______________ as a punishment. People also wear ______________, which are a symbol of Ireland. As well, there are ____________ on the streets and sometimes people ______________ the rivers green. Saint Patrick Banishing the snakes ____________ Patrick is the patron saint of ______________. According to _____________, Saint Patrick was ______________ in Britain and then _______________ by pirates and sold as a _______________ in Ireland.  He escaped with the help of an _____________ and then lived in a ____________ for twelve years before going back to Ireland. When he returned to Ireland he performed many ______________. According to one myth, Saint Patrick got rid of all of the ________________ in Ireland. Leprechauns A leprechaun is an Irish ____________.  They are very ____________ and like to make ______________. If you catch a leprechaun, they can tell you where a ___________________ is. But be careful, If you take your ____________ off of them for an instant, they _________________. © 2

2nd Act 4th of ESO you should watch History.com's video and answer some of the following questions:

1. Give another name for Ireland and why is that nickname given?
2. Narrate the first myth of St. Patrick's.
3. What are the shamrocks a metaphor of?
4. When and why did the Irish emigrate to USA?
5. What are the first and the most popular parades in USA?
6. What is the main dish for Irish-American on St. Patrick's Day?

Learn some facts about Ireland:

Guinness Cake by Manu Catman

Symbols & Traditions

The Irish Flag has three vertical strips of green, white and orange and was first used in 1848. It's colours held important significance for the political situation in Ireland at the time. The green represented the Catholic majority while the orange was the colour of the Protestant population. The middle stripe of white symbolised a hope of peace or unity between the two.

The harp has long been the traditional symbol of Ireland. The musicians of ancient chieftains played the harp and today we'll see it on coins, the presidential flag, uniforms, state seals and so on. The Celtic harp is said to stand for immortality of the soul.

For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence.

Once upon a time, visitors had to be held by the ankles and lowered head first over the battlements. Today, they are rather more cautious of the safety of their visitors. The Stone itself is still set in the wall below the battlements. To kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. The prize is a real one as once kissed the stone bestows the gift of eloquence.

Blarney Castle

A limerick is a silly poem with five lines. They are often funny or nonsensical
How to write a limerick: the first, second and fifth lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables (typically 8 or 9). The third and fourth lines rhyme with each other and have the same number of syllables (typically 5 or 6). Limericks often start with the line "There once was a..." or "There was a..." Here you are an example by Leanne Guenther

There once was a shamrock named Shawn,

Whose leaves first unfurled in the dawn

He was easily seen,

With his bright leaves of green,

Right up ‘til the day he was gone.

Act 3: Can you create your own one?

Act 4:Some idioms with green: Are there any similar in your own language?

• give someone the green light- "give permission to go ahead with a project"
• to have a green thumb - "a have a talent for making things grow"
• green with envy -"very jealous, full of envy"
• wearing of the green - "to wear green clothing on St. Patrick’s Day"
• to be green around the gills -"to look very sick"
• green-eyed monster - "to feel jealous"
• to be green - "to be inexperienced at something"
• grass is always greener on the other side - "a place that is different seems better than where we are now"
• folding green- "paper money"

Act 5:
We are practising musical competence with a song with one of the most common surnames of Irish origin Old MacDonald had a farm. We are going to play musical chairs.

And... some more Celtic music, if you feel like going on with the game.