St. Patrick's Day might not be the biggest holiday of the calendar year but when it comes to the wee folk known as leprechauns in Ireland, the level of mythical magic that goes along with it can't be denied. For those in the U.S., the holiday has been somewhat Americanized with people opting to don full green outfits, drink green beer, and pay tribute to Ireland and its traditions by indulging in corned beef and cabbage among other celebratory (and green) foods. For some families, leprechauns have also found their way into the annual festivities... and many even try their best to catch them.
For Christmas, Elf on the Shelf was an attention-grabbing activity for kids and families all around the world. But now, that small elf has some competition as leprechauns are closing in to steal the show - or, rather, the shelf - for St. Patrick's Day. While this is not necessarily a new tradition, it's something that has made its way to the U.S. and has now been made popular by children's books and popular folklore. So, how does one go about catching one of these Wiley, spritely creatures?
Traps Can Be Complex And Intricate, With A Fun Twist
This is a project that the entire family can take on and is even a cute way for couples or roommates to add some funky fun into their space in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day. A leprechaun trap doubles as a decorative centerpiece that's whimsical and fun and with the normal celebratory activities for this year likely being canceled due to the pandemic, this is a fun at-home project for everyone. Take inspiration from the folklore that has been passed down for generations in Ireland or come up with your own twist on this leprechaun trap - either way, it's bound to be a great conversation starter.
One trip to the craft store can yield an entire list of leprechaun-appropriate items that can really jazz up a simple 'trap.' Planning the actual trap is a bit of work and a lot of fun as well - it's a fun way to use clever brains to come up with a method that would, theoretically, work to score a real-life creature such as the tricky leprechaun.
Even simple things, such as balloons as with this trap, can be used in creative and innovative ways. And, of course, you need some green in there! Tiny signposts and cardboard decorated with variously colored paper and confetti makes for a fancy and interesting scene. It's easy to picture something as small as a leprechaun jumping merrily down this road to what he thinks is gold... but is actually a trap!
For those who have kids, there's a good chance that you always have some colored construction paper on hand, right? It can be put to good use by making a tophat (green, of course!) complete with a shiny gold belt buckle and a small ladder leading unsuspecting leprechauns to the top. This clever little trap involves the use of a trapdoor with a (surprise!) glittery shamrock covering, and the shiny 'coins' at the top are actually individually-wrapped, small candies with gold foil.
Many times around St. Patrick's Day, you can find gold coins that only add to the realistic effect of these leprechaun traps. After all, who's to say that a leprechaun is able to tell the difference between some shiny wrapped chocolate coins and the real thing? These are surely enough to lure one to its impending doom (or, rather, just a trap) in order to entice them into being caught. In Ireland, on March 17th, the notion of catching leprechauns is something that's talking about among children as they come up with their own creative ways to trap the little buggers.
If you want to create a super impressive trap, consider using something more substantial such as legos. For something like this, leprechaun traps can actually be placed outside - such as this one - in order to entice a leprechaun out in the wild. It's a fun project for kids and adults to do if they're looking for a holiday-themned craft to do during the month of March, and the best part is that it can stay out there for some time if it's built with waterproof craft supplies, such as the playful shamrock garland used on this one.