How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (November 17)

Celebrating the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary with Kids

The Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, celebrated on November 17th, is a wonderful occasion to teach children about kindness, compassion, and the importance of helping those in need. St. Elizabeth is known for her selfless acts of charity, especially towards the poor. Here are some engaging ways to celebrate this special day with your kids!

1.  Enjoy Our Printable Activities

Kick off your celebration with our St. Elizabeth of Hungary coloring page! This fun activity allows kids to learn about her life while expressing their creativity. Additionally, you can engage them with our Alphabet Bread activity, where they can practice their letters while understanding St. Elizabeth’s love for feeding the hungry. As they create their own alphabet bread, encourage them to think about how they can help others in their daily lives.

2. Decorate with Roses

Roses are significant in St. Elizabeth’s story; they symbolize her kindness and her miraculous act of giving. As the story goes, when she was caught delivering bread to the poor, the bread miraculously transformed into roses, showcasing God’s protection over her. Decorate your home with rose-themed decorations, whether real flowers or crafted paper roses, to honor her legacy.

3. Eat St. Elizabeth Related Food

Food plays an important role in celebrating the Feast of St. Elizabeth. Here are some delicious ideas to share:

  • Hungarian DIsh: Celebrate St. Elizabeth’s Hungarian roots by cooking a traditional Hungarian dish. A simple recipe is Lángos, a deep-fried flatbread often topped with sour cream and cheese. It’s a fun dish to prepare together as a family, and you can enjoy it while discussing her life and legacy.
  • Bread and Butter: St. Elizabeth is often associated with bread, so enjoy fresh bread with butter as a simple yet meaningful snack. You can even bake bread together as a family!
  • Rose-Shaped Food: Create rose-shaped snacks using puff pastry or fruit. For example, you can slice apples or pears thinly, arrange them in a spiral, and bake them to make rose-shaped pastries. Talk about the miracle of the roses that happened St. Elizabeth.
  • Soup for the Soul: Make a warm, hearty soup to share with family and friends. This can be a comforting reminder of St. Elizabeth’s kindness in providing nourishment to the hungry.
  • Sweet Treats: Bake cookies or pastries shaped like loaves of bread or hearts, representing the love and care St. Elizabeth showed to others.

3. Activities to Play

Incorporate fun activities that reflect St. Elizabeth’s life and her patronage of the poor:

  • Pretend to Be St. Elizabeth: Encourage imaginative play by having the kids pretend to be St. Elizabeth hiding bread in her cloak. You can set up a little game where they gather small items (like toy bread or pretend food) and hide them in their cloaks or shirts as they “deliver” them to those in need.
  • Play Restaurant: Set up a pretend restaurant where kids can serve food to each other as if they are sharing a meal with the poor. This role-playing activity can help them appreciate the significance of hospitality and generosity.

Conclusion

Celebrating the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary provides a beautiful opportunity to instill values of compassion and charity in children. By engaging in printable activities, enjoying meaningful foods, and participating in fun, service-oriented games, families can honor the spirit of St. Elizabeth together. This special day serves as a reminder of the importance of caring for others and sharing our blessings.