| Once
upon a time the celebration of the pattern day or saint's day of
the Saint of the people of the Island of Ireland united all who resided
upon the island, no matter what their belief, in solemn prayer and thanksgiving.
The focus of all was upon religion and upon the role of St. Patrick
in bringing Christianity and protection to both the people and their Celtic
Civilization. As a man from Dublin once told me "and yes, the
protection of the Irish - no easy task!". Take
a moment to return to that original spirit of the holiday and make a St.
Patrick 's Day Cross. Then, if you have not already done so.
go
here to find out what else you have to do to celebrate the day properly.
Materials:
1.Any
disk or square of cardboard
will
do. I use beer mats. Try to get
the
ones which are not printed on one side-if you can't get them you can
paint
printed ones white.
2.Green
Fancy Ribbon-no more than
about
1/2 inch wide -about 6-9 inches
or
about 3 times the width of the backing.
3.Images
of symbols of Ireland-harps,
shamrocks
etc...(stickers are great or cut up old St. Patrick's Day Cards- but
please!
NO Leprechauns!!!
4.If
you know a priest in Ireland have him send you an old vestment to cut up-otherwise
an old tie will do just fine!
Cut
this into small pieces.
5.Bright
tastles, strings,or threads.
Instructions:
1.Cut
two pieces of ribbon. They
should
be about 2 inches longer than the cardboard base.
2.Either
glue the ribbons onto the front of the base at right angles or cut narrow
slots into the base and weave them across the base at right angles.
3.In
each quadrant of the base glue a picture of a symbol of Ireland-harp, shamrock,
etc.
4.At
the central intersection of the two ribbons and at the intersections of
the ribbons with the edge of the base attach
pieces
of vestment, tie, or colored cloth.
5.Use
your imagination to decorate the cross! You can cut notches or patterns
into the edge or you can make holes along the edge and tie on fringe or
tassles.Just be sure to keep to the traditional colors of green, orange,
white and blue. And be sure to avoid those Leprechauns!
Wear your cross
proudly pinned to your
lapel or dress
at all St. Patrick's Day
events. Now....that
will be Traditionally Irish!
Return
to the Irish Traditional Crafts Page
Return
to the Irish Studies Pages
|
County Kildare
County Meath
Source: Kevin Danaher, The Year In Ireland |