It is therefore possible that diamonds and lozenges were Celtic symbols associated with Imbolc, and that Christian missionaries added arms to evoke the shape of a cross, appropriating these symbols with a Christian meaning and attributing them to the saint.

In addition, the day of celebration to mark Saint Brigid falls on the same feast day for the Celtic goddess Brigid: the traditional Gaelic festival of Imbolc. There are various types of Brigid’s Crosses, including the traditional four-armed cross made from rushes, as well as variations using different materials such as straw, fabric, or even metal.We have St,Brigid's Cross placed above our front entrance, Lovely rustic cross and beautifully made. One of the customs associated with Brigid of Kildare's feast day was to hang Brigid's crosses in the rafters or over entryways of buildings, thus invoking the saint's blessing and protection for the remainder of the year. Hi Laura, I’m afraid that I can’t tell you how long the pieces were in this particular tutorial, as I made it three years ago, but if you are making it with common rush, it should be of a suitable length (if you take the blades from the base) and you can always trim away any excess, if they are particularly long ones. Unlike traditional crosses, this one has a square centerpiece with four radials that are woven together in a crisscross pattern, with each end tied with a string. In 2007, a novice monk suggested making traditional beeswax furniture polish, as a way of using up the surplus beeswax from our apiary.

Brigid's cross or Brigit's cross (Irish: Cros Bhríde, Crosóg Bhríde or Bogha Bhríde) is a small variant of the cross often woven from straw or rushes.While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. With that came Celtic Christianity and missionaries whose life purpose was to spread the word of God. Rushes are a plant with thin but strong hollow leaves that are found growing in marshy, wet, and boggy spots all over Ireland.

The National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology is undergoing improvement works in the Rotunda area to enhance your museum experience. If you want to make a cross that will last, you will need to use stems that have already been dried and soak them for a short while beforehand.The ratings/reviews displayed here may not be representative of every listing on this page, or of every review for these listings. The cross of rushes may indeed be an adaptation of an older woven symbol, which along with Brigid, may have been transfigured into a Christian saint by early Irish pilgrims to ease the conversion or Irish pagans to Christianity.

In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site’s House Rules please Flag This Object.Once you have finished making your Brigid’s Cross, you can hang it above your door, in your car, or anywhere else in your home. Two sticks are crossed over one another to provide a wooden framework for this cross, and at its centre, straw is woven into the shape of a diamond.