Florida Catholic | Palm crosses – so easy a kid can do it?

Palm crosses – so easy a kid can do it?

Well, yes, with some patience and a little adult supervision … and a diagram … or two … that make sense.

Published: 03.07.08

On the third night, and with more than a little practice, Carlos Gonzalez, 7, became adept at crafing palm crosses. Editor’s Note: Carlos Gonzalez is son of Florida Catholic Special Projects Editor, Jean Gonzalez.
JEAN GONZALEZ | FC

It seemed easy enough.

Sit down with the oldest child of the clan, and have him make a cross from the leaves of a palm frond, like one he would receive following Palm Sunday services.

Find several diagrams on the Internet and in a few minutes, “Presto!” — a cross like Grandma would make. Easy, right?

Ever seen some of those diagrams? Leonardo da Vinci’s helicopter prototypes gave scientists fewer headaches.

OK, that might be an exaggeration, but some of those diagrams are tough. But some yield phenomenal results — monstrances, fish, circular folded roses, crown of thorns, and different types of crosses (see boxed info below for Web sites for different diagrams).

After two nights of practicing, 7-year-old son and Daddy successfully made a cross using a diagram copyrighted by S.A. Keith of www.christiancrafters.com.

So with patience and practice, parents can have a fun time with their kids making palm crosses. And if push comes to shove, if you are unsuccessful, try a thumb-tack cross — cut the frond leaf in two strips, place them perpendicular, and put a thumb-tack in the center. Voilà! You have a cross.

Want to try your hand(s) at it?

• www.thesacredheart.com/plmcross.htm (step-by-step instructions and photos)

• www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/3499/Palm_Crosses.htm (image diagram)

• www.geocities.com/salvarolaccraft01.htm (crown of thorns instructions)

• www.armenianchurch.net/worship/easter/palmcross.htm (step-by-step diagram)

• www2.jsonline.com/lifestyle/peole/apr00/palm0401600.htm (detailed instructions on different crafts, including different crosses, a fish, monstrance and rose

• kingofpeace.org/palmCrosses (step-by-step instructions and photos)

• www.kidssundayschool.com/Gradeschool/Crafts/1craft08.php (diagram taken from S.A. Keith — www.christiancrafters.com)

Return to Florida Catholic Online Home Page

Palm crosses – so easy a kid can do it?

Want to try your hand(s) at it?

Other Articles