St. Brigid of Ireland and her unmistakable Irish cross

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Dublin, Ireland, Feb 1, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Oral and folk tradition recounts that St. Brigid, whose feast day is celebrated in Ireland on Feb. 1, made a cross from rushes or reeds to explain Christianity to the faithful in much the same way Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick, used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. 

The St. Brigid cross is typically made from reeds or rushes that grow in damp or waterlogged patches of ground throughout Ireland alongside rivers and lakes.

Tradition holds that the rushes for the crosses should be pulled up at the roots, not cut, on St. Brigid’s Eve, Jan. 31. They are then made into crosses in family homes according to a pattern passed from generation to generation. The crosses are blessed at Mass on the feast of St. Brigid — Lá Fhéile Bríde — Feb. 1. When the crosses are made, because the rushes are freshly harvested, they retain a deep green luster. Over time the rushes dry out and their dry and pale yellow color resembles that of straw.

In schools, teachers often use paper straws to make the crosses with their pupils, as the straws are slightly easier to manipulate and less messy.

It was said that by placing a cross above your main door, St. Brigid would not allow any harm or evil spirit to pass the protective charm of her cross. The cross also provided protection to the household from fire and other dangers as well as a blessing to farmers, farmworkers, crops, and livestock.

There are different types of St. Brigid’s crosses: the four-legged cross is the most familiar with the well-known knot at the center. There are other varieties such as the three-legged, chalice style, and regional varieties, for example, and there is also what is called the Derry cross. It is a more complicated construction and definitely not for beginners.

St. Brigid was born in the fifth century in Faughart, County Louth. Her feast day is on Feb. 1 and folk history says she also died on that day. She is one of three patron saints of Ireland, along with St. Patrick and St. Columcille. Her feast day marks the beginning of spring, a season of hope and renewal. St. Brigid is also known as the patron saint of livestock, babies, new mothers, and nuns, among others.

How to make the St. Brigid cross

Following this technique, the key is to add a rush and then turn the cross clockwise before adding another rush. The process broken down in stages is as follows:

1) Start with two rushes and fold one over the other into a T:

2) Take another rush and fold in half doubling over the T pointing to the right (don’t add a fourth point yet):

3) Hold the rush just added and turn clockwise so the previously added rush is pointing down:

 4) Add a new rush below the previous one, pointing again to the right:

5) Turn clockwise again, holding the previous rush to keep it secure; repeat this process until the knot at the center of the cross is the size required:

 6) When finished with the cross, wrap the last four added rushes around the base of the leg and tie the ends of the cross with string or a rubber band: