Why does St Bridget have a cross?
Brigid’s Cross is to protect a house and drive evil, fire, and hunger away. It can also represent peace and goodwill, and it was even placed in cowsheds to safeguard animals and help cows to produce more milk.
Where do you hang St Brigids cross?
Brigid’s cross on this day is a traditional ritual in Ireland to celebrate the beginning of early spring. The crosses are made of rushes. They are hung by the door and in the rafters of homes to protect the house from fire and evil.
What is St Brigid cross?
Brigid’s cross or Brigit’s cross (Irish: Cros Bríde, Crosóg Bríde or Bogha Bríde) is a small cross usually woven from rushes. Typically it has four arms tied at the ends and a woven square in the middle. Historically, there were also three-armed versions.
What are St Brigid’s crosses made from?
The St Bridget’s Cross is made out of plants called rushes (Juncus effusus) for hanging above the entrances to dwellings to invoke the help of St Bridget in warding off disease. St Bridget’s Day is celebrated on the 1st February each year and the crosses are made at that time.
What is saint Brigid the patron saint of?
Brigid of Ireland, Brigid also spelled Brigit or Bridget, also called Brigid of Kildare or Bride, Irish Bríd, (born, according to tradition, Fochart, near Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland—died c. 525, Kildare, Ireland; feast day February 1), virgin and abbess of Kildare, one of the patron saints of Ireland.
How do you make a St. Brigid cross with rushes?
What to Do
- Hold one of the reeds vertically.
- Place the first vertical reed in the centre of the folded second reed.
- Hold the centre overlap tightly between thumb and forefinger.
- Turn the two rushes held together 90 degrees anti-clockwise so that the open ends of the second reed are pointing vertically upwards.
Why is St. Brigid so special?
Brigid is also said to have miraculously changed water into beer for a leper colony and provided enough beer for 18 churches from a single barrel; she is sometimes considered to be one of the patron saints of beer. Brigid’s feast day is observed as far away from Ireland as Australia and New Zealand.
What do you leave out for St. Brigid?
Some households would leave out a small piece of cloth or a ribbon on the windowsill, called a Brat Bríde or Ribín Bríde.
Why was St Brigid made a saint?
How many rushes does St. Brigid’s cross have?
To make a cross 16 lengths of fresh Soft-rush are needed each about 30cm long. One length is folded in half over another length, and rotating clockwise, the pattern is repeated to weave a square.
Who is St Brigid of Kildare?
St Brigid’s Cross. She is furthermore the founder of the first Irish monastery in County Kildare, Ireland. Born in Dundalk in 450 AD, St Brigid is accredited with first creating the unique cross which bears her name. This cross is normally hand created from rushes however occasionally straw is also used.
What are St Brigid’s crosses?
Brigid’s crosses are associated with Brigid of Kildare, one of the patron saints of Ireland. The crosses are traditionally made in Ireland on St Brigid’s feast day, 1 February, which was formerly celebrated as a pagan festival ( Imbolc) marking the beginning of spring. Many rituals are associated with the making of the crosses.
Why do we make crosses in Ireland?
The crosses are traditionally made in Ireland on St Brigid’s feast day, 1 February, which was formerly celebrated as a pagan festival ( Imbolc) marking the beginning of spring. Many rituals are associated with the making of the crosses.
What is the Irish rush cross?
This rush cross, which became St. Brigid’s emblem, has been used in Irish designs throughout history, with many modern stylists using this now popular Irish symbol within the designs of Irish jewelry and Irish gifts.