St. Brigid's Cross

In many of the stores here you will see St. Brigid's crosses for sale and you will see them hanging on the windows of houses. K and T  had asked me a few questions about the cross so I had to do a little research to find out more about it. I thought I would share....

Making a St. Brigid's cross is one of the traditional rituals in Ireland to celebrate the beginning of spring, February 1st. The crosses are made of the rushes that are pulled rather than cut. They are hung by the door and in the rafters to protect the house from fire and evil. According to tradition a new cross is made each St. Brigid's Day, and the old one is burned to keep fire from the house. Many homes though have several crosses preserved in the attic and are blackened by many years of hearth fires. Some believe that by keeping a cross in the ceiling or roof is a good way to preserve them from fire which was always a major threat in houses with thatch and wood roofs. 

St. Brigid and her cross are linked together by a story that she wove this form of cross at the death bed of either her father or a pagan lord. When they learned what the cross meant, they were asked to be baptized. One version goes at follows: "A pagan chieftain from the neighborhood of Kildare was dying. Christians in his household sent for Brigid to talk to him about Christ. When she arrived the chieftain was raving. As it was impossible to instruct this delirious man, hopes for his conversation seemed doubtful. Brigid sat down at his bedside and began consoling him. As was customary, the dirt floor was strewn with rushes both for warmth and cleanliness. Bridgit stooped down and started to weave them into a cross, fastening the points together. The sick man asked what she was doing. She began to explain the cross, and as she talked he quieted and questioned her with growing interest. Through her weaving, he converted and was baptized at the point of death. Since then the cross of rushes has been venerated in Ireland."

St. Brigid died in 525 at the age of 75 and was buried in a tomb before the High Alter of her Abbey church. Later, her remains were transferred to Downpatrick to be with the other two patron saints of Ireland, St. Patrick and St. Colmcille. Her skull was brought to Portugal by two Irish noblemen, and it remains there to this day. St. Brigid is also known as Muire na nGael or Mary of the Gael which means Our Lady of the Irish. Her feast day is the 1st of February, which is the first day of Spring in Ireland.