Celtic Goddess or Gaelic Saint, Bridget's Day welcomes the new year!

Three and four point st bridget’s cross, woven and photographed by pauline mahon

A consequence of the distruction caused by storm Éowyn on Friday morning last: both on a regional and national level, together with the twelve hours of localised torrential rain resulting from storm Herminia on Sunday night/Monday morning; further hampering the repair crews in my neighbourhood, was the inconvenience of having no utilitie services, such as water, power or telecommunications, which lasted at least six days; it was therefore, refreshing, to join the Rambling House group to take  part in the traditional custom of St. Brigid's cross making on January 30th in the Learning Forum, Moygownagh, as we talked about our "Oíche na Gaoithe Móire". https://thisisfriz.com/

The Celtic people viewed the year as two halves: winter was known as decreases, while summer was increases. (daylight). The festival of Imbolc, falling on February 1st is halfway between winter solstice and spring equinox. Imbolc was recognised as a time of growth and rebirth in the plant world, as well as the animal kingdom.

Sheep were crucial to the survival of the Celtic economy, as they were more hardy than cows would have been: therefore more suited to endure the life that was then available to them; on the sparse vegetation of the springtime habitats of ancient Ireland, before the discovery of artificial  fertilisers. Cows produced their offspring later in the season when grass was more abundant.

Sheep: producing their young earlier in the season; ensured that lamb and human had a reliable source of milk and food. Springtime was also when farmers set down the new crops of vegetables and tillage, with hope in their hearts for a bountiful harvest.

Brigid: (aka Brigantia) according to Mythology, was a fire goddess and daughter of Dagda; a deitie of the Tuatha Dé Danann, (supernatural race). Through her love of animals, her powers of protection of crops and dairy production, she became associated with the festival of spring.

Here is where this particular branch of Mythology becomes somewhat blurred or confusing. When Ireland was Christianised in the 5th century, the mantle of the goddess Brigid/Brigantia was passed on to another lady also called Brigid; who legend records as being born to Dubhthach a Pagan Gaelic father, chieftain of Leinster and Broicsech a Christian slave mother of Portuguese origin, in 451 AD at Faughart, Co. Louth. This lady who later became a Saint, moved to Co. Kildare. After setting up her Abbey there, she remained in Kildare until her death aged 74 in the year 525 AD.

Lá Fhéile Bríde is celebrated on February 1st, being recorded as the day of her death. In 2023  St. Brigid's Day becamd an annual public holiday; our only Irish female named holiday, is in celebration of Ireland's womens' contributions and achievements across the globe.

The name Brigid means the exalted one. A significant vertue about Brigid which outshon all others was her generosity. When it came to serving the poor, she is alleged to have said: "If I had the power to give away the whole of Leinster; I would willingly give it to the poor".

She became a patron of livestock: dairy production, healing, protection, blacksmithing, learning and poetry, following in the footsteps of her predecessor.

St. Brigid is venerated, not only in the Catholic Church, but also the Anglican and Orthodox Faiths too.

In 1969 Brigid became one of 93 saints removed from the universal calendar by Pope Paul VI. Her feast day was also revoked. Nonetheless: we the people of Ireland; continue to cherish the centuries old customs of St. Brigid's cross making, Brideóg Night, and other blessings associated with our country's only female patron saint.

St. Brigid is credited with the tradition of keening: a riticual of wailing, weeping and singing, that was carried out at Irish wakes and funerals.

A variety of different regional styles and variations of St. Brigid's crosses exist all over Ireland, such as diamond, interlaced, wheel-shaped: as well as three-armed crosses which usually were displayed in animal housing for protection of livestock; whilst the four-armed cross was used for family and household protection.

During 1962 the four-armed cross style was popularised, as it became the emblem or logo of Telefísh Éireann. This emblem, after undergoing many changes, was finally decommissioned on August 28th 1995.

Different crafting styles can also occur within the same family home, as the skill is based on personal style, ability and patience.

Beannachtai lá Fhéile Bríde!
Cover image: photo of ‘Brigid of Faughart’ mural in Dundalk by visual artist FRIZ.
Sources: National Museum of Ireland. https://www.museum.ie
St. Brigid's gns, Glasnevin. https://www.stbrigid.ie
RTÉ Archives. https://www.rte.ie