Quick Guide to Celebrate the Feast Days in March 

Here’s another quick guide on how to celebrate feast days in March with children. We cover Ash Wednesday, the Feast of St. Felicity and St. Perpetua, St. Patrick, St. Joseph, and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. Let’s jump in! 

Ash Wednesday (March 5, 2025)

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It’s a day to reflect on our need for repentance and to turn our hearts toward God.

✂️ Printable Activity: 

• Crown of Thorns Rose Craft: Use our Crown of Thorns Rose Activity to encourage acts of kindness and sacrifice throughout Lent.
• Lent Countdown: Follow along with our Lent Roadmap to keep your family focused on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. A free coloring version is available as well!
• Stations of the Cross Reflection & Sequencing Cards: Help children reflect on the Passion of Christ with these cards, which encourage prayer and understanding of each station.

🐟 Food:

Meatless Meal Ideas – Since fasting and abstinence from meat are practiced on Ash Wednesday and Fridays in Lent, a simple meal like fish, shrimp tacos, bean soup, pancake breakfast for dinner, or cheese pizza helps children understand the spirit of sacrifice.

🙏 Activity: 

• Lenten Intentions Calendar – Create a calendar where each day focuses on a person or cause to pray for or sacrifice for. Rotate who chooses the intention, fostering intentional prayer and acts of charity throughout Lent.
• Receive Ashes & Choose a Lenten Fast – Attend Mass or a prayer service to receive ashes as a reminder of our dependence on God. Encourage children to choose a Lenten fast, such as giving up TV, social media, or a favorite treat, while also adding something positive like extra prayers or acts of kindness.

Feast of Sts. Felicity & Perpetua (March 7)

These two courageous women were early Christian martyrs from Carthage (modern-day Tunisia) who remained steadfast in their faith despite persecution.

🖍 Printable Activity:

Lion Mask Craft – Let kids create and decorate their own lion mask to remember the bravery of these saints, who faced wild beasts in the arena.

🍯 Food:

Figs, Dates, or Honey-Covered Nuts – These were common foods in North Africa during their time and offer a simple way to connect to their story. The natural sweetness makes them a kid-friendly and easy-to-prepare snack.

🎧 Activity: 

• Listen: Tune in to the Catholic Sprouts Podcast episode about Sts. Felicity & Perpetua, 
• Watch: Watch the Catholic Heroes of the Faith movie on St. Perpetua (available on FORMED)
• Fancy hairdos: St. Perpetua pinned up her hair before facing martyrdom, showing dignity and courage. Have children try different hairstyles, like braids or pinned hair, while discussing how these saints remained strong and graceful, even in their suffering. Call it “Martyr’s Poise” to honor their bravery.

Feast of St. Patrick (March 17)

St. Patrick, the great missionary to Ireland, taught about the Holy Trinity using a shamrock and brought Christianity to the Irish people.

✂️ Printable Activity:

• Bishop’s Miter and Shamrock Crown – Kids can cut, decorate, and wear their own bishop’s miter in honor of St. Patrick’s role as a bishop.
• Holy Trinity Shamrock Craft – Cut out and paint a shamrock green to symbolize the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

🥔 Food:

• Simple: Lucky Charms (because of the shamrocks in it), green Jello, or baked potatoes for a staple of Irish cuisine
• Traditional: Corned beef and cabbage or soda bread.

🎧 Activity:

• Listen: Saints Alive Podcast on St. Patrick.
• Watch: Catholic Heroes of the Faith movie on St. Patrick (available on FORMED).
• Shamrock Hunt: Hide shamrock cutouts around the house or yard. Have the kids go on a scavenger hunt to find as many as they can! 
• Dress up: Pretend to be St. Patrick with your new bishop miter and Holy Trinity shamrock craft

Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19 & Month of March Dedication)

St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus and a humble carpenter, is honored on his feast day with a St. Joseph’s Table, a tradition of offering food in thanksgiving for his intercession

✂️ Printable Activity:

• St. Joseph Table Shadow Matching Printable – Kids match different foods and symbols to their places on the St. Joseph’s Table.

🍝 Food:

• “Sawdust” Pasta (pasta with breadcrumbs, representing a carpenter’s sawdust).
• Chicken Parmesan (another take on the sawdust theme).
• Zeppole (Italian cream-filled donuts, or an easier store-bought option like cream puffs).
• Fava Beans (a traditional food linked to St. Joseph’s Table, symbolizing provision during famine).
• Lent-friendly option: Sicilian-style pasta with anchovies and breadcrumbs

🎧 Activity:

• Listen: Saints Alive Podcast on St. Joseph.
• Build: Create a real or small-scale St. Joseph’s Table as a family and learn about its significance. Or build something else with blocks, LEGOs, or purchase a woodworking kit from a department store to build together.
• Pray the Litany of St. Joseph – Ask for his intercession as protector of families and workers.
• Acts of service for dads & father figures: Make a card, do a chore, or say a special prayer for them.
• Read about St. Joseph in the Bible: Reflect on his faith and obedience in Matthew 1:18–25 and 2:13–23.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin (March 25)

The Annunciation celebrates when the Angel Gabriel visited Mary to announce that she would conceive the Son of God.

✂️ Printable Activity:

Puppet Reenactment – Create your own puppet show to reenact the moment of the Annunciation when the Angel Gabriel visited Mary. This printable includes everything you need for a fun and interactive activity that brings the story to life!

🍯 Food:

• Waffles – Traditionally, waffles are enjoyed on the Feast of the Annunciation in Sweden. You can celebrate with waffles topped with whipped cream and lingonberries, or opt for baked goods like cinnamon rolls or sweet breads.
• Angel food cake – A light, airy dessert that symbolizes the angelic message brought to Mary.
• Fruit salad with “heavenly” whipped cream – A simple and delicious way to represent the heavenly message.

🎧 Activity:

• Sing a Marian hymn such as Hail Holy Queen or Ave Maria.
• Discuss the importance of Mary’s “yes” and her role in salvation history.
• Pray: Consider making a prayerful moment by reading the Angelus together as a family at the traditional times like noon or 6 pm. Or pray a rosary which includes part of the angelic greeting from the Annunciation.