watchingthedaisies

St Brigid’s Cross Making

img_6008

St Brigid’s Day is traditionally celebrated on 1 February, which is also considered the first day of spring here in Ireland, also known as Imbolc.

History

Brigid was born in 451 AD, and was destined to become a nun and an abbess.  She founded several convents, the most famous at Kildare, on the site of a shrine to the Celtic goddess Brigid.

Saint Brigid is said to have woven a cross from the rushes of a floor mat, as she taught a dying man about Christianity.  Thus, the tradition of making crosses from rushes or straw to mark Brigid’s feast day was born…

St Brigid Cross Making

On 31 January 2017, I joined a local gathering to learn more about cross making, among some very experienced weavers.

img_6009

A cross made from straw by a local craftsman

Rushes lay ready prepared in neat bundles on the floor, and were then distributed along a series of tables.  I was taught by an experienced hand, who had me weaving in no time.

The basic cross making technique is simple – once you have had a few practices!

img_5999

You begin with two rushes, bending one over the other.

img_6001

Now add one rush at a time, crossing the last set, turning the cross with each addition, whilst keeping everything as tight as possible.

img_6002

The centre of the cross begins to take shape.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Once you are happy with the size of your cross, tie the ends with wool or string.  I added extra ties around the central square, as I liked the finished effect, plus it keeps everything extra secure…

Here is my first completed cross:

img_6008

My enthusiasm knew no bounds, and I made two more crosses in the same design:

img_6011

Followed by a triangular version:

img_6012

Finally, I made a very simple cross, woven with two sets of six rushes:

img_6013

Bruitin

Half way through the proceedings, we were treated to bowls of mashed potatoes and chopped scallions, topped off with butter and warm milk.  This is a traditional Irish dish known as bruitin (pronounced broo-cheen).  My tummy was incredibly happy!

I shall be making more St Brigid’s Crosses again tonight – a beautiful Celtic tradition.

Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.

126 comments

      • Not here in Cincinnati – we are expecting snow! We usually can’t expect what I think of as Spring weather here until mid-April, in any case (although we do get a tease or two earlier).

        I set myself the challenge of visiting and commenting on every blog in this week’s Senior Salon. I saved yours for last, I must admit, since my life does not allow for crafts at present. I was so pleased when I got here that I had followed through on my challenge.

        My religious upbringing was sporadic at best, since my mother was forced to pack, move and unpack an Air Force family of 7 practically yearly, while my father put in long hours at work. We were a Protestant family, so I’d have learned little of saints in any case. Base Chaplains already have their work cut out — attempting to serve all Protestant denominations in a single service.

        This was a wonderful history lesson for me – and I so appreciate the underlying value of keeping the old traditions alive. Thanks for a great read.
        xx,
        mgh
        (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
        ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
        “It takes a village to educate a world!”

        Liked by 3 people

  11. This post emitted coziness in your accounting of the craft and increased my knowledge of your local folklore. Really made my day, thank you.
    I wonder, do persons in your culture greet one another with a “Happy St. Brigids Day” on February 1st as well?

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  17. [J] Where we stay in South Uist is Cille Bhrighde: on the small beach by our walled garden, Birgid stepped ashore in the Outer Hebrides for the first time (some believe that Hebrides is derived from Isle of Birgid), an oyster-catcher (Gille Bhrighde – servant boy of Birgid) perched symbolically on each wrist. Later a Celtic Chrisian chapel was built here, named after her, and though the chapel is long gone, to this day the place is known as Cille Bhrighde – the chapel of Birgid.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  18. Oh wow that is so cool. I love the third one too that is my favorite also. Yum mashed potatoes my tummy would have been happy too!! So Spring starts Feb 1 for you? Huh, I like it…when does summer start?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  24. Brigid, wow, a fascinating post and I just want to rush out and try this! I am so impressed with your crosses and am particularly taken with the last simpler version. What a wonderful tradition and despite having visited Ireland numerous times, I’ve never heard of this particular skill. Wishing you many happy meditative hours making your creations. 😀 Ps. do you mark the saint’s day of your name at all?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • It is here too but already some plants are starting to peak out and the birds are definitely tweeting more. 🙂
        Also lovely to find out about St Brigid, even though the first thing I saw when I started to scroll down was ‘Brigid was born in 451 AD’ – you’re the only Brigid I know so I was abit confused for a moment! 🙂 🙂 xxx

        Liked by 1 person

  27. When I was young I lived in a village where most activities centred around the parish church and thechurch calendar. At age 11 I became a bell-ringer, having to stand on an orange box to reach the bellrope, my brothers were choirboys and I remember the annual gathering at the vicarage to make palm crosses for Palm Sunday. These were given out to the congregation during the service.
    Lovely post 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  34. I so enjoyed your story and your weaving! The beginning is always the hardest because there is so much in a small area. Is Imbolc.the official date for Spring or is that a Celtic tradition? I love it when we learn from each other.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you Terri. Yes the beginning is rather fiddly! Imbolc is a Celtic tradition that many people still regard as the first day of spring in Ireland. Others go with 1 March or even 21 March so it gets rather confusing…
      The bulbs here are well up this year so I will go with 1 February for 2018.

      Like

      Reply

  46. I love this Brigid, what a lovely way to “step out of the fray” for a bit and do something that quiets the heart & mind! Over the past few months, crocheting has been doing that for me… What kind of rushes are used?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment