How to Make an Irish Wren Craft

Celebrate St. Stephen's Day by making a bird mask.

On Dec. 26, the Irish celebrate St. Stephen's Day. It is one of Ireland's national holidays, and it originally was named after the Christian martyr, Stephen, who was stoned to death for his faith. Today, St. Stephen's Day is celebrated by a traditional parade called "Hunting for the Wren." In the past, people have dressed up like the wren, a bird that is connected to mysticism in the Irish tradition. Make paper wren masks to celebrate St. Stephen's Day.

Things You'll Need

• Paper plates
• Scissors
• Glue sticks
• Markers
• Faux feathers
• Straw
• White craft glue
• Glitter glue pens
• Sponge brush
• Popsicle sticks

Instructions

1. Turn a paper plate upside down so that the top of the plate rests on your flat work space.

2. Squeeze white craft glue across the entire plate. Press faux feathers into the mask so that it covers the plate completely. Use feathers of different colors, and be creative with your design. Allow the glue to dry. For a more traditional St. Stephen's Day bird mask, glue strands of straw or hay to the mask instead of feathers.

3. Cut out an orange triangle for the bird's beak. Glue it to the plate with white craft glue. You will be gluing the beak on top of the feathers.

4. Cut out two eyes with a pair of scissors. Glue the eyes on top of the feathers.

5. Embellish the bird mask with glitter glue pens. For example, add accents around the bird's eyes or on the bird's beak. You can squeeze glitter glue on the bird's beak and spread it out like paint with a sponge brush. Allow the glitter glue to dry. Wash your sponge brush immediately.

6. Turn the plate over, and glue a Popsicle stick on the back of the plate. This will serve as the handle for the mask. Allow the stick to dry.

References

• Kids Turn Central: St. Stephen's Day
• Dingle Peninsula: Hunting the Wren History