Saint Patrick's Day Lesson Plan

Saint Patrick's Day Face Painting by: me

Match the words on the left to the definitions on the right.
1. patron saint a. a building that everybody recognizes
2. commemorate b. a line of people who move in order to celebrate something
3. shamrock c. a person in the Christian tradition who protects a place and guides its people
4. pagan d. a plant with three leaves on one stem
5. parade e. someone who has religious beliefs that do not belong to one of the main
world religions
6. dye f. to change the color of something with a special substance
7. landmark g. to do something in order to remember a past event
2 Saint Patrick's Day: Fact or fiction?

Look at the statements about Saint Patrick's Day below. Decide if they are true or false and then listen
to the recording to check your answers. Correct the statements that are false.

1. March 17 is the date of Saint Patrick's birth.
2. Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in Ireland and is celebrated in many countries all over the world.
3. Saint Patrick's Day commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.
4. Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain a Christian idea to Irish pagans.
5. City authorities in New York dye the city's river green for this day.
6. Famous landmarks are lit up in green around the world.
7. The biggest St Patrick's Day parade in the world is in Dublin, Ireland.
8. Saint Patrick's Day celebrations have been criticised for being too long.
3 Talking point
Discuss any of the questions below.
1. Do people celebrate Saint Patrick's Day in your country?
2. Do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?
3. What do you think of Saint Patrick's Day?


2- Saint Patrick's Day: Fact or fiction?
Saint Patrick's Day is an annual celebration of the patron Saint of Ireland. It is held on March 17,
which is believed to be the date of Saint Patrick's death. This day is a national holiday in Ireland, but
it is celebrated by Irish communities and many other people in countries around the world. The
festival commemorates the time when Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century.
On this day, it is custom to wear green or shamrocks. This is because, according to legend, Saint
Patrick used a shamrock to explain the Christian idea of the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans.
Around the world there are traditional Saint Patrick's Day parades. In Dublin, there's a huge parade
that attracts nearly a million people and it's 5 days long. But the biggest parade is in New York City,
which is attended by over 2 million people. Saint Patrick's Day is also known for being a "drinking
holiday". Drinking alcohol, especially Irish Guinness, has become an important part of the
celebrations. And the color green is not only worn on people's bodies. In Chicago, for example, the
city authorities dye the river green. And famous landmarks around the world are lit up in green
lighting. Many people also celebrate the day by eating green food and drinking green beer.
In recent decades, St Patrick's Day celebrations have been criticized, particularly for their
association with drinking alcohol. And some people argue that the festivities have become too
commercialized, and that the original idea of the festival has been lost.

http://www.linguahouse.com/32f1ffb6-1d67-6224-819b-d8540042e7b2/St-Patricks-Day-Ex2/audioPlayer.html

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1- Key words
1. c 2. g 3. d 4. e 5. b 6. f 7. a
2- Saint Patrick's Day: Fact or fiction?
Students can work individually and check in pairs. Play the audio file or scan the QR code with a mobile device
(while connected to the internet) to start the recording.
1. F - It's the date of St Patrick's death.
2. T
3. T
4. T
5. F - Chicago authorities dye the river green.
6. T
7. F - New York City holds the biggest parade.
8. F - They've been criticized for alcohol drinking.