ST. PATRICK'S DAY—MARCH 17TH
Place Cards (White cards, water-color or oil paints, brush)
Paint a picture of shamrock upon the card. It may be copied from some picture, if not from the real plant. If not possible to find a picture, our wild-wood-sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) is supposed to be the same as the shamrock and may be used for model. Some authorities believe the white clover to be the original shamrock.
Flags (Irish flag, green paint, gold paint, brush, scissors, slender sticks)
If one Irish flag is bought the children may copy it, painting a number, one for each guest, or for decorating table. Glue flags to sticks.
Ribbon Flags (Green satin ribbon, one inch wide, wooden toothpick)
Cut the ribbon into oblongs to make wee flags. Glue to tiny flagsticks and put at places at dinner table.
Shamrock Plants
The real shamrock is now brought over and may be purchased in March. A little plant makes an appropriate souvenir. Or several weeks before the day, children may plant shamrock seed in tiny pots for use on the 17th.
Potato Race
A potato race is an appropriate game for St. Patrick's Day. (See [page 94].) Give cork doll for prize to winner of race ([page 81]), as souvenir from Cork.
St. Patrick's Dinner
Have as many green vegetables and side dishes as possible. Spinach will color the soup. Green vegetables and salads are easy to obtain and ice cream may be colored with pistache. Irish flags may be suspended over the table.
Dinner Souvenir (Blotting paper, souvenir postcards, green ribbon ½ inch wide)
Give each guest a blotter made thus: Buy souvenir postcards with pictures of Killarney and other Irish views. Cut the blotting paper into sheets of same size as cards. Place together. Punch hole at one end and tie together with ribbon.