In days of old, me and my honey would be sporting green at some local pub while drinking green beer, but things look quite different after becoming a mom. As much as I love sharing those goofy memories with my now spouse, I love creating goofy new ones with my daughter. One such tradition we started over the years is setting up a leprechaun trap.

I don’t know who created the first laprechaun trap craft but they are all over Pinterest and super adorable! I love the creativity it inspires in my child as she plans out latches, trap doors, and camoflauge for the perfect setup. Several years ago, our first trap was just a shoebox, but now they sell leprechaun traps with decorations included in the craft section of most stores or find a pop-out trap on the back of a box of Lucky Charms.

This year we took the easy route and followed the instructions on the back of the Lucky Charms cereal box for the trap. I say “easy” but we did go a little extra by making the box green, added popsicle sticks for support, and then including a moat with sharks ::shrugs::. Maybe it’s a Florida thing. At the grocery store my daughter kept searching for leprechaun bait so I grabbed the only thing magical and green (Sno Balls) and called it a day. Pro-tip: microwave a Sno Ball for 10-15 seconds. Yum!

Every year we set up our trap a little early and I will leave out proof of the leprechaun’s presence. Sometimes he leaves a surprise in the toilet, foot prints by the stove, or a treat in exchange for the one he ate in the trap. My daughter has gotten so excited to see what the leprechaun does each night, sometimes I wonder if she enjoys it more than Christmas. She definitely thinks the leprechaun (now named Lucky) is in cahoots with the Elf on the Shelf.

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Along with all the fun, I wanted to incorporate something educational so we took a trip to the library to pick out some books on the history of St. Patrick’s day and borrowed a CD of beautiful Celtic music. It’s been a fun way to learn about another country and we are definitely including celtic music for a calming alternative to the radio.

What are some fun ways you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?