Two-hour talk to re-engage with life of St Brigid and her link to district

Two-hour talk to re-engage with life of St Brigid and her link to district

26 January 2022

THE distinctive St Brigid’s cross is something that many Catholics are very familiar with, including having fond memories of being taught how to make one at school which was proudly displayed at home.

As the the feast day, February 1, approaches, the interest in the life and work of one of the world’s most beloved saints is still high.

Local people will have the chance to re-engage with the story of St Brigid, who is special to the Downpatrick area as she is reputedly buried alongside St Patrick in the grounds of Down Cathedral. 

Historian and tour guide Brigid Watson, of Sustainable Journeys Ireland, will be hosting a talk on the life of St Brigid with a demonstration of cross-making and a chance for participants to make personal crosses.

Entitled Brigid Saint or Goddess, the two-hour talk will be held at the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick from 2-4pm next Tuesday, February 1, and again on February 26 and March 20.

Brigid explains why the story of St Brigid and her namesake remains fascinating to her.

“St Brigid is the female patroness of Ireland and one of the most widely revered saints in Ireland and beyond. She lived in the period 450-526AD and was a visionary spiritual leader and inspirational woman,” she explained.

“Brigid was recognised as a saint from around the seventh century and seven different ‘lives’ of St Brigid were written which is indicative of the cult following she had.

“Her feast day is on February1 which is the first day of spring — Imbolc in the Celtic calendar.  There are three other feasts in the Celtic calendar —  May 1, Bealtaine; August 1, Lúnasa; and November, 1 Samhain. Each of the feasts has associated with it a specific set of beliefs and customs.

“There was a pre-Christian aspect to the feast on February 1. The main importance of the feast of St Brigid would appear to be that it was a christianisation of one of the key dates in the farming year in Ireland. In earlier centuries in Ireland and in many areas St Brigid’s day was observed as a holiday and some farming related activities were not permitted. In 2021, the government of the Republic of Ireland decided to make the February 1 a bank holiday. This is an inspired choice of date for the new bank holiday.”

Brigid said the main customs associated with St Brigid’s Day are the making of St Brigid’s crosses; the Brídeóg and the Brat Bríde. These customs were traditionally practiced on the eve of St Brigid’s feast day as according to Celtic timing, night came before day.

The custom of making St Brigid’s crosses is still widespread throughout Ireland. There are regional variations across Ireland in the design and composition of the cross. The most common one is the simple four armed cross. 

“The explanation of the custom is that St Brigid made the cross when she was comforting a dying man who wished to convert to Christianity. She placed it in his hands,” explained Brigid. “People believe that the St Brigid’s cross offers protection from sickness and other forms of adversity for their homes, family and animals.

“Today in Co Down farming and non-farming families still want to get a St Brigid’s cross for this reason. In Ulster, a three-armed cross was placed in the stable or byre for the protection of animals.  Throughout my life I have made St Brigid crosses for our home.

“As a teacher I have taught groups of pupils how to make the cross. It is important that we pass on customs and traditions to the next generation and do not lose the wealth of culture we have in Ireland.”

She said that the Brídeóg is another custom associated with St Brigid’s Day. It consisted, or consists, of a group of young people called brídeoga, ‘biddies’ (girls) or biddy-boys going from house to house carrying an effigy of St Brigid (Biddy).

The children received some donation at each house visited. Often a doll was made for the occasion. The body of the doll may have been made from a sheaf of straw. A ball of hay, straw or turnip was used to represent the head. It was usually constructed with a strong stick or churn-dash at its core. 

The use of the churn dash was thought to reflect the saint’s association with dairying. A purchased rag doll might be used. Whether a doll was made or purchased, it was a representation of St Brigid and was dressed in white.

The original objective of the exercise was the collection of alms for the poor. The group always provided some entertainment for the homes visited with singing or music. The girls and boys in the group dressed up in disguise for the occasion. The custom lasted longest in Co Kerry and still survives today in a few areas.

The third important custom which was widespread throughout Ireland is known as the brat Bríde (St Brigid’s cloak). A piece of cloth, larger than a hankerchief, was put on a bush outside the home on the eve of St Brigid’s feast day and it was not usually brought in until morning. 

Brigid added: “The belief was that when St Brigid was travelling around the country that night and she came across the cloth, she blessed it with the curative powers of her cloak. It was put away and used as a healing cloth throughout the year for sickness, pain and as protection against harm. With changes in society this custom has only survived in some areas including the south and west of Ireland.”

The historian said that Saint Brigid, who is strongly associated with nature and farming, is “a saint for our times”. With the environmental crisis facing us we can learn from the reverence which the early Celtic saints, including St Brigid, showed towards nature. They appreciated the fundamental importance of nature to humanity.

“The challenges we face today are much greater than those in the 5th and 6th centuries but the need for social justice is the same. May the life of St Brigid be an inspiration to all to take action for a better world.”

When she died St Brigid was buried beside the high altar in the church in Kildare. Her remains were brought to Downpatrick for reasons of safety at the time of the Viking raids on monasteries and reburied with those of St Patrick and St Colmcille at Down Cathedral.

To book a place at £17 for one of talks visit https://www.saintpatrickcentre.com/friends/saint-brigids-day-experiences.