Teach Kids About Celtic Culture By Throwing A Fun Bash

There are countless activities kids can participate in to learn about history and culture. If your family has Welsh, Irish, English, or Scottish origins (or is just interested in these countries) a Celtic party is a terrific way to teach kids about their heritage and present facts in a fun, easy-to-understand manner.

Ask your kids what they think of when you say the word "Celtic." St. Patrick's Day and the wearin' o' the green will probably come to mind, and perhaps some Irish landmarks or proverbs. This is a perfect time to teach kids about the fascinating Celtic culture that goes far beyond Irish history. Who were the Celts? There were a tribal people who dominated Europe even before those infamous Romans arrived. The Celts were known for their love of colorful fabrics, their wild warfare, and their independence and free spirit.

The Celts once lived in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. One way for kids to learn about the fascinating Celtic world is to throw a Celtic party. If you have an interest in throwing an ancient Roman party for kids, this could tie in nicely since the Celts were the Romans' enemies for many centuries. Tell kids about Queen Boudicca, a Celtic queen from the British Iceni tribe who rebelled when Roman cruelty became too great to ignore. Though her rebellion was unsuccessful, her bravery and patriotism still rings across the history pages.

A party need not be a drain on the budget; families watching their pennies will have no trouble planning this colorful, historical bash. Fancy costumes are unnecessary (though if you have any historical or fantasy costumes that could be altered into Celtic garb, go for it!) and any plaid or checked material worn as a dress or flung around the shoulders like a cloak should do nicely. Influential Celts wore neck bands called torques, almost like a choker but open in the front. See if you can twist copper wire or perhaps even interwoven pipe cleaners to create this all-important Celtic Jewelry.

When I planned my own Celtic bash, I wore a green plaid pair of pants with the legs wrapped around my shoulders to resemble a cloak. Then I chose a red plaid skirt and a simple blouse, all items I already had lying around the house. Clashy and colorful --- my ancient Celtic ancestors would have loved my ensemble! For your party, consider braiding little girls' hair into intricate designs. What about the boys? Before going into battle, Celtic warriors made fearsome hairdos by allowing lime to dry in their hair. This created a wild up-sweep meant to terrify their enemies. Some hairspray or hair-gel should allow you to give little boys (and men!) this terrifying look. Add some temporary color (a whitish / greenish color would be historical) to really make a statement! What little boy doesn't love dressing like a "barbarian" warrior?

Another cute idea for your Celtic party is to face-paint. When ancient Celts went into battle, they painted themselves with woad, making swirling blue designs across their faces and arms. I didn't have professional face-paint at the time of my party and so I used a mixture of black and blue eye-shadow! I created the intricate designs on my face and voila! I could have played Queen Boudicca herself. Making "play" weapons is another great party activity, or, better yet, colorful Celtic shields. Check the Internet for some design suggestions. Boys and girls alike will have a blast planning their "battle"!

For Celtic party decorations, see if you can find travel magazines that show Celtic countries (sadly, England, Wales, and Scotland show few traces of their Celtic past, so Ireland will be your best bet). Make sure to tell kids that the Celtic world went far beyond Ireland's borders, however. Printable coloring pages will give kids the opportunity to design their own party decorations and will add to the fun. It will be difficult to find *or* make Celtic tableware, so perhaps simple earthenware pieces would be best. Paper tableware with a plaid design would be great if you can get it, though!

Some discussion points for your party could include Celtic battles against the Romans; Queen Boudicca's revolt and its causes (though the violence enacted against her tribe has some adult themes, and you may want to tailor your discussion depending on children's ages); Celtic habits, traditions, and customs; and Celtic religion. Try to create question-and-answer games in which kids can learn important facts. Internet sites will have lists of the Welsh, Irish, and Scottish language, and it might be fun to have kids compare them and talk about how they might have branched off. Trying to pronounce the words will make this a fun exploration!

Celtic music is quite popular and can be purchased from many different sources. Create a party ambiance by playing folk music such as jigs and reels, or create a mysterious feel by using sounds by Enya and other popular Celtic artists. If you are interested in church history, weave the transition from Celtic paganism to Christianity into your storytelling. You'll be surprised how responsive kids will be to learning in a party environment.

What about food? In the ancient Celtic world, people ate salted meat, bread, and ale. Not very appetizing party fare! Irish soda bread is a fun project that is quite popular around St. Patrick's Day. Bailey's Irish Creme Cake, though, is not appropriate for little guests . . . see if any substitutes can be used. Irish recipes will be easy to find and can provide great variety for your party. Some English recipes have Celtic ancestry --- there's no need to be picky. In fact, if Celtic recipes don't appeal, any fun finger foods be used if you can find a way to give them a Celtic flair (labeling them with their name in Gaelic, etc).

Have fun! The Celts were one of history's most fascinating and colorful cultures, and now kids can experience this firsthand in a thrilling yet educational way.

Sources

Echna's Celtic Grooming Page, http://www.celticgarb.org/persona/grooming.html, Celtic Garb

Your Guide to the Ancient Celtic World, http://www.ancient-celts.com/, Ancient Celts

Celtic Music CDs, http://celticmusic.org/, Celtic Music CD Store