While Saint Brigid Day was on February 1st we are going to discuss it today. On February 1st is the Celtic festival of “Imbolc.” This signifies the time when ewes are starting to come into milk and are ready to go out to the pastures where the new grass is starting to come up. For our ancestors it was a time to emerge from the dark and cold and a time for fertility and great promise. For these reasons, February 1st is also the day the greatest female saint of Ireland is celebrated, Saint Brigid.
1 February is the day of the greatest female saint of Ireland, Saint Brigid
Saint Brigid was born in 455 AD in County Louth. After hearing Saint Patrick preach she decided against marriage and to devote her life to God traveling around Ireland bringing the Christian religion to Irish Chieftains and their tribes. There is an old tale about how Saint Brigid got the land for her monastery. According to the tale a chieftain told her she could have as much land as her cloak would cover. When she puts her cloak down it spread over several acres. This was outside Kildare. Did you know that her monastery was for both males and females? She held a lot of power for a woman back then, as much as a bishop would have. So no wonder she was able to teach both nuns and monks.
While Ireland has many traditions there are a couple associated with Saint Brigid. Have you heard of the “Crosóg Brigid” or St. Bridig’s Cross? These crosses were originally made from rushes and hung from the rafters to ward off fire. Many people still hang them from their doors today. She was also associated with the healing arts. For this reason many healing wells throughout the country are dedicated to her. There are also some doctors that hang her cross in their offices. Here is a poem from 1735 about Saint Brigid:
St. Brigid’s Cross hung over the door,
Which did the house from fire secure,
And though the dogs and servants slept,
By St. Brigid’s care the house was kept.
Saint Brigid was a woman with much power and a desire to help others around her. If you go to Kildare today all that is left is the round tower of her monastery that was built so long ago. Do you have family members that carry her name? Did your family (or do they still) have customs associated with Saint Brigid they celebrate? I find it a testament of her life that she is still remembered today.
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