How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew (September 21)

Celebrating the Feast of St. Matthew: Fun Ideas for Families

The Feast of St. Matthew, celebrated on September 21, offers a wonderful opportunity to bring faith into your home with activities and food that honor this great apostle and evangelist. St. Matthew, once a tax collector, left everything to follow Jesus and became one of the four Gospel writers. Here’s how you can celebrate his feast day with your family, combining meaningful symbolism with fun!

1. St. Matthew Coloring Page & Number Counting Activity

Incorporate a St. Matthew coloring page into your celebration. You can find a short story and coloring page featuring St. Matthew here. You can also engage your little ones with the St. Matthew number counting activity as well. 

2. Enjoy Silver Dollar Pancakes & Apples

Kick off your celebration with a special breakfast of silver dollar pancakes. These small, round pancakes resemble coins, symbolizing St. Matthew’s former profession as a tax collector. 

Apples are a great snack to enjoy on St. Matthew’s feast day, and they carry rich symbolism. In Christian art, apples often represent knowledge, wisdom, and teaching—qualities that reflect St. Matthew’s role as an evangelist spreading the teachings of Jesus. Enjoy apples sliced with honey, stewed apples, or even an apple pie or crisp.

3. Play an Activity Related to Money

Since St. Matthew was a tax collector before following Jesus, a Coin Hunt Game is a fitting and fun activity for kids.

How to Play:

• Hide play coins or chocolate coins around your home or yard.
• Create clues or a simple map to help your kids find the hidden “treasures.”
• After finding all the coins, talk about how St. Matthew left behind his coins and old life to embrace a new life with Jesus.

Conclusion

Celebrating the Feast of St. Matthew on September 21 can be a joyful and educational experience for your family. By making silver dollar pancakes, enjoying symbolic apples, and playing a Coin Hunt Game, you can bring the story of St. Matthew to life in a way that’s both meaningful and fun.

These activities offer a chance to reflect on St. Matthew’s journey from tax collector to apostle, and his role in spreading the good news. As you celebrate, you’ll be creating lasting memories and deepening your family’s connection to this inspiring saint.