Location	Throughout the island of Ireland and in Irish communities across the world
Categories	Social practices, rituals and festive events Traditional craftsmanship
Keywords	St. Brigid, cross, February, faith, spirituality, rushes
Contact organisation	Solas Bhríde

Short Summary

St. Brigid’s Crosses, a variant on the traditional Christian cross associated with the Irish Christian saint Brigid of Kildare (c. 451 – 525 AD), are woven from rushes on 1^st February each year.  Aside from the actual weaving of the crosses, there are many rituals involved in collecting the rushes (said to be the material that St Brigid used in weaving the cross) which vary from area to area. Today, much like shamrocks or folklore, the St Brigid’s cross is seen as a symbol of Ireland.

 

Background Information:

The tradition of weaving St. Brigid’s crosses is based on a legend about how Saint Brigid converted a dying chieftain. To explain the new Christian faith to him, she improvised making a cross from rushes which was all that was available to her in the location.

The written tradition dates back to the middle ages but the oral traditions dates back to at least the 5th century when legend tells us that St. Brigid herself wove a cross from rushes. The crosses were blessed and hung-over doors and windows of the house, the byres, and stables, to protect the family and all the animals – protection against fire, storms, lightening and illness.

From Wexford to Donegal, rushes were traditionally collected on the Eve of St. Brigid’s Day, the 31st of January. This was done before dark, with the rushes collected and brought in, sometimes with a ceremony involving the youngest child in the house or in other cases where a prayer was said. Once this was done, the family and sometimes neighbours would gather and make these crosses.

Another variation of this custom was on St Brigid’s Eve a member of the family usually the father would gather rushes and leave them at the door. At nightfall a member of the family would go outside and call to the people in the house to let Brigid in. They all shout a welcome while on their knees and this is repeated 3 times. The family then made crosses from the rushes and the following day holy water was sprinkled on them.

The traditional meal before making the crosses was a supper of potatoes and freshly churned butter. Often, Colcannon was made by adding chopped cabbage, then apple cakes or barm brack followed with tea. The family would eat this meal together and make their St Brigid’s crosses.

These crosses were then left out on the doorstep or on the windowsill, with the belief that Brigid blessed them as she passed by during the night.

 

Practice and Practitioners:

In many families the tradition has been passed on for generations. Schools all over the country especially those with a connection to or dedicated to St. Brigid make crosses and many sell them for charitable purposes.  These crosses are in great demand within their communities.

Many attendees at community centres and retirement groups make the crosses. Many churches offer crosses to the congregation on St. Brigid’s day eagerly woven by parishioners’ days before.

Libraries throughout the country host workshops on making crosses.

For over 30 years Solas Bhride Centre, Kildare Town hosts Feile Bride (Brigid’s Festival) during the first week in February.  Weaving the cross is an integral part of the festival and almost 200 people, Irish and other nationalities attend the workshops held on St Brigid’s day.

Today, with the resurgence of interest in Brigid, both the saint and the goddess there has been an increase in the desire to learn how to weave a cross. 2024 marks the commemoration of the 1500th anniversary of the death of St Brigid and this has increased interest in the tradition both in Ireland and abroad.

Different areas of the country have variations of the cross e.g., three-armed rush crosses, straw crosses etc. Both Seán Ó Duinn OSB in his book ‘Where Three Streams Meet, Celtic Spirituality’ and Dr. Noel Kissane in ‘Saint Brigid of Kildare, Life, Legend and Cult’ discuss the geographical differences in style from the three armed cross prevalent in the north, a triskel/trinity design, a weaved/lapped design with twelve rushes from the west to the familiar four armed cross.

Development, transmission and safeguarding:

Today, there is a great resurgence in finding out more about St. Brigid, she has become a woman for our time. The cult of Brigid and the interest in the folklore and traditions surrounding her has travelled the world. Just as the early Irish monks brought stories of Brigid and Kildare to far flung places today modern technology has seen the interest in the saint grow. It is not just from a faith aspect alone that learning how to weave a St Brigid’s cross has become popular, the folklore surrounding this has reawakened an interest from people of all faiths and none.

In Ireland the primary school curriculum includes Saint Brigid along with Saint Patrick and many schools throughout the country hold practical demonstrations on how to weave a St. Brigid’s cross. Some schools invite an older member of the community to come and give a practical demonstration.

The younger generation play an important role in showcasing and safeguarding the practice. For example, in 2019 two pupils from St. Brigid’s Primary School Kildare had the honour of visiting Áras an Uachtaráin where they demonstrated how to make a cross and then presented their crosses to President & Mrs Higgins. Children have also participated in interviews with Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ and brought a modern take to the St. Brigid’s cross by the use of simple materials and shapes. In 2023 pupils from Kildare Town Community school and local primary schools made a human St Brigid’s cross in their sports field. This was further developed in 2024 when almost 4000 students from Kildare formed a human St. Brigid’s cross on the Curragh plains.

Organisations such as Solas Bhride welcome visitors and pilgrims from all over the world, all seeking to learn more about St. Brigid. On September 21st, 2013, Solas Bhride and Kildare town set a Guinness World record for the greatest number of people making St. Brigid’s crosses in the same place at the same time. As of the inscription date July 2024 this record still stands.

Contact organisations:  Solas Bhríde Centre   www.solasbhride.ie