release dates: March 14-20 11-1 (09) Go dot to dot and color this symbol of Ireland. © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate St. Patrick’s Day Is March 17 Looking for a Leprechaun St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday Meet a leprechaun Leprechauns at work in Ireland. It celebrates one of that A leprechaun is a mysterious or Leprechauns are thought to be country’s special saints. magical being. According to Irish legend, shoemakers. They make and repair shoes It is not a national holiday in the leprechauns live in the countryside with for other fairies, who wear out their shoes United States, but many Americans humans. But they’re rarely quickly with all the dancing they do. celebrate anyway. Even people who have seen by people. They make only one shoe at a time. no Irish ancestors like to pretend they’re Most pictures of Some people Irish for a day! leprechauns show believe that you can St. Patrick jolly little elves tell when you’re St. Patrick was a with pink cheeks and close to a missionary in smiles. You might see leprechaun’s home Ireland during the these on items for sale because you can fifth century. He around St. Patrick’s Day, hear the tapping of was taken there as or on cereal boxes. his little hammer a slave when he Folklore experts say Image © General Mills Inc. as he works on shoes. was a teenager. One of the legends leprechauns are indeed small, but their Other legends tell of leprechauns being After he returned about St. Patrick is that clothing is usually untidy and old. They builders and stonemasons, metalworkers he used the shamrock, might wear an old blue or green coat, and even bankers. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate to his home in or a clover-like plant, to short pants, woolen stockings and a wide- Leprechauns also love music and can Britain, he believed explain the holy trinity TM he was called to go to people. brimmed hat or stocking cap. remember old tunes that have been Rookie Cookie’s Recipe back to Ireland and spread Christianity. Instead of being happy, leprechauns forgotten by humans. They like to play Irish folklore are more likely to play tricks on humans. the harp, fiddle and Irish pipes. Easy Tomato Salsa In fact, Irish people used to leave milk, Humans and leprechauns You’ll need: Ireland is famous for cheese, bread or other foods on their Parents may tell their children not to • 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes its folklore,or doorsteps at night to keep the local • 2 cups roughly chopped cilantro traditional stories that leprechaun from speak to leprechauns; otherwise the children might be caught in the fairy’s • Juice from 1 lime are passed down from making mischief,or • 1/2 medium onion, chopped (optional) generation to generation. trouble, at the home. magical power. • 1 medium jalapeño pepper, chopped and seeds removed A favorite symbol of Leprechauns are also But leprechauns aren’t naturally (optional) Ireland is the thought to be miserly, mean. Legend says that when the • Tortilla chips leprechaun. To celebrate or greedy for money. Vikings left Ireland, they left some of What to do: St. Patrick’s Day, The They make their homes their buried treasure behind. The 1. Place all ingredients (except chips) in a blender. Mini Page found out in abandoned barns or leprechauns decided to keep it so humans 2. Blend until well-mixed. more about this crafty churches, or in the wouldn’t fight over it. With their tricks, 3. Chill and serve with tortilla chips. little fairy. leprechauns try to teach valuable lessons. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. Illustration by Jean-noël Lafargue woods or in caves. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Meet Emily Osment Emily Osment stars as Melissa Hamilton in Other Irish Symbols the Disney Channel movie “Dadnapped.” She is best known for her role as Lilly Truscott in the Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana.” The Blarney Stone Emily began acting in commercials when Scotland Have you ever heard someone say she was 5 years old. She has appeared in “Oh, that’s just a lot of blarney”? several movies, including “Spy Kids 2: Island of Northern The Blarney Stone is an actual stone Ireland Lost Dreams” and “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over,” built into a castle tower near Cork, and the television movie “Sarah Plain and Tall: Winter’s End.” Dublin She has also been the voice for characters in animated England Ireland. The legend says that if you kiss features such as “Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch.” the stone, you’ll become a clever Emily, 17, was born in Los Angeles. Her father, Eugene, and speaker, maybe convincing your The Irish flag her brother, Haley Joel, are also actors. She loves to sing, read, listeners that whatever you say is true. Ireland’s flag is known as the tricolor. snowboard, play guitar, write songs and hang out with friends. The Celtic harp She has two golden retrievers, Tor and Nado; a teacup poodle, Ireland Wales The three colors are symbols of Catholic Luna; a lizard, Pete; and a box turtle, Tuck. In the 1500s, King Henry VIII added Ireland (the green), Protestant Ireland from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate The Republic of Ireland is an island the image of a harp to (the orange), and the peace to exist TM from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate country in Europe. It shares the island the currency,or between them (the white). with Northern Ireland. Northern money, of Ireland. Some people think this flag Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Since then, the represents the whole island. It might be Supersport: James Harrison Ireland is also known as the Emerald Celtic harp has seen flying in Northern Ireland as well Height: 6-0 Born: 5-4-78 Isle because of its lush green hills and been a symbol of as in the Republic of Ireland. Weight: 242 Hometown: Akron, Ohio fields. that country. Touchdown runs aren’t James Harrison’s specialty. Natural features of Ireland He’s the Pittsburgh Steelers’ hard-hitting linebacker and The Associated Press A long history Today, all Irish Image courtesy European Central Bank NFL Defensive Player of the Year who stops opponents from scoring touchdowns. currency has the Ireland has Yet Harrison might be remembered most for his record-breaking 100-yard TD Experts believe Ireland has been photo by Michael mountains, F. Fabus, courtesy run in this year’s Super Bowl. After intercepting a pass on his own goal line, he Celtic harp on it. “Eire” (AIR-uh) is the Pittsburgh Steelers turned into an offensive star, rumbling all the way down the field to give the inhabited by people for more than 8,000 lowlands,or Steelers an edge over Arizona. years. Many of the traditions that are Irish word for “Ireland.” The play, regarded as the game-changer, helped propel Pittsburgh toward its sixth Super valleys, and Bowl title. It will be shown on highlight tapes for decades. still honored in Ireland began with “Erin go bragh!” coastlines. Along There was a time when achieving something super in a Super Bowl appeared to be the last thing Harrison would do. Despite a standout career at Kent State University, he didn’t get some of these early people. You may see this sentence on posters the west coast photo courtesy Cliffs of Moher Visitors’ Centre drafted but did sign as a free agent. He spent his first four seasons as a reserve, finally or T-shirts near St. Patrick’s Day. It is in lie steep, high The Cliffs of Moher getting a chance to start in 2008. the Gaelic language, and it means rock faces called the Cliffs of Moher. Harrison made the most of his opportunity. He recorded a team-high 16 sacks in the regular The Mini Page thanks Brian McFadden, season and led the NFL in forced fumbles with seven. “Ireland forever!” The River Shannon is the longest That’s what a defensive player of the year does. But every now and then, he also might run associate professor of English, Texas Tech for a game-swinging touchdown. University, for help with this issue. It is pronouced AIR-in guh BRAH. river in Ireland. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Leprechaun Legends TM All the following jokes have something in common. Magical coins Can you guess the common theme or category? A leprechaun will promise great wealth to a person who Ben: How do you find the missing catches him if he’s allowed to go free. He carries two barber? leather pouches. One contains a silver shilling. This coin Beverly: Comb the city! reappears in his pouch each time it is paid out. The other pouch holds a gold coin, which the leprechaun uses to try Bill: What did the conductor say to the barber? and bribe Barb: “Take it from the top!” his way out of difficult Barney: What did the scissors say to the situations. barber? This coin Bob: “It won’t be long now!” may turn from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate to leaves TM Basset Brown TRY ’N or ashes The News as soon as Hound’s Leprechauns FIND Words that remind us of leprechauns and Ireland are hidden in the block The pot of gold he gives it below.