St. Brigid’s Cross.

"May Brigid bless the house wherein you dwell.

Bless every fireside, every wall and door.

Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof.

Bless every hand that toils to bring it joy.

Bless every foot that walks its portals through.

May Brigid bless the house that shelters you."

The early Christians in  Ireland seem to have adopted Brid, a Pagan goddess, as their own St Bridget.  Her talisman was a cross made from rushes at the beginning of February to protect the household from fire and evil.    This coincided with one of the four Celtic festivals, Imbolc.  There is also a three legged version which reflects the Celtic fascination with threefoldness and this was put in the byre or cowshed to protect the beasts.  


In Christian mythology, St. Brigid and her cross are linked with Candlemas, another February date  celebrated with candles and flames.  An erstwhile convent school girl like myself remembers this festival well and trying to set fire to one another's white veils with our candles.   


One version of how she came to make the cross goes as follows:  a pagan chieftain from the neighbourhood 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 conversion seemed doubtful.  Brigid sat down at his bedside and began consoling him. 

The dirt floor was strewn with rushes. Brigid stooped down and started to weave them into a cross, fastening the points together and explaining their meaning.  The chieftain watched her with growing interest. He became calmer, converted and was baptized at the point of death.  


I use a version of the cross which reflects its February origin, using 14 rushes to give 28 separate ends like the number of days in the month.