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MAKE THE CROSS: FOLD THE STRIPS OF PAPER: Fold each strip of paper in half. FIRST STRIP: Hold the first strip vertically with the fold on the top. SECOND STRIP: Hold the second strip horizontally with the fold on the left. THIRD STRIP: Hold the third strip vertically with the fold on the bottom. FOURTH STRIP: TIGHTEN:.
What can I use to make a St Brigids cross?
Rushes were traditionally used to make the St Bridget’s Cross. These were collected from wetlands and cut into pieces, 8-12 inches long. Rushes can be hard to get for city dwellers so ordinary paper environmentally friendly drinking straws are a good substitute. Use rubber bands to tie up the ends.
What is St Brigid’s cross made of?
Brigid’s cross is usually made from rushes or, less often, straw. It is traditionally believed that the cross protects the home from fire. St. Brigid’s crosses are often made on 1 February and sprinkled with holy water.
What does brigids cross represent?
St. Brigid’s cross symbolises the beginning of Spring. In Ireland the official beginning of Spring is February 1st. These crosses are hung by doors to protect houses from Fire and Evil.
Where do you hang St Brigid’s Cross?
They are hung by the door and in the rafters of homes to protect the house from fire and evil. According to tradition, a new cross is made each St. Brigid’s Day, and the old one is burned to protect the house from fire.
What is a Brigid doll?
(Like the Brigid’s Cross – Tutorial here >>) The straw dolls are called Brigid Dolls. According to pagan custom, Brigid Dolls are crafted on Candlemas and placed into little “beds” next to the fireplace, to welcome light and fortune to the home.
How many rushes does it take to make a St Brigid’s Cross?
To make a cross 16 lengths of fresh Soft-rush are needed each about 30cm long. One length is folded in half over another length, and rotating clockwise, the pattern is repeated to weave a square.
What does a Celtic cross look like?
The Celtic Cross is basically a Latin cross with a circle of light, or a halo intersecting it. This cross also known as the Irish cross or the cross of Iona is a famous Christian symbol that has its roots in paganism.
How do you make a Brigid doll?
Brigid’s crosses are made from reeds or willow, or anything that can be found in the hedgerows, river banks or, if all else fails, straw or paper. To make the cross, bend the reed, straw or paper and hook them into one another. Repeat this over and over again until you have four arms each nice and thick with reeds.
What is St Brigid famous for?
5. Brigid is the patron saint of poets… But that’s not all – she’s also the patron saint of midwives, newborns, Irish nuns, fugitives, blacksmiths, dairymaids, boatmen, chicken farmers, cattle, scholars, sailors, and no doubt many more.
What was St Brigid’s message?
Brigid was said to have performed, like healing and other acts commonly associated with other Christian saints, it was believed that Brigid could also control the rising water in a river. “That’s the sort of thing that a Pagan goddess could do,” Dr.
What were St Brigid’s crosses traditionally used for?
The Saint Brigid’s Cross was traditionally hung on the kitchen wall to protect the house from fire and evil and even today a Brigid’s Cross can be found in many Irish homes, especially in rural areas.
How do you do a Brigid Cross?
What to Do Hold one of the reeds vertically. Place the first vertical reed in the centre of the folded second reed. Hold the centre overlap tightly between thumb and forefinger. Turn the two rushes held together 90 degrees anti-clockwise so that the open ends of the second reed are pointing vertically upwards.
What’s the meaning of the Celtic cross?
A wonderful representation of faith, the Celtic Cross first emerged across the island of Ireland in the early Middle Ages. Subject to many different interpretations, the Celtic Cross is said to be a representation of knowledge, strength and compassion to manage life’s ups and downs.
Is Brigid’s Cross pagan?
The crosses are traditionally made in Ireland on St Brigid’s feast day, 1 February, which was formerly celebrated as a pagan festival (Imbolc) marking the beginning of spring. Many rituals are associated with the making of the crosses.
What Imbolc means?
Imbolc is a pagan holiday celebrated from February 1 through sundown February 2. Based on a Celtic tradition, Imbolc was meant to mark the halfway point between winter solstice and the spring equinox in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland.
What is the meaning of a corn dolly?
/ˈkɔːrn dɑːli/ (British English) a small figure made from pieces of wheat or dried grass twisted together. Originally corn dollies were made as symbols for the gathering of crops, but now they are mostly for decoration.
Who is St Brigid the patron saint of?
St Brigid is also known as Mary of the Gael or Muire na nGael aka Our Lady of the Irish. She is one of the Patron Saints of Ireland, along with St Patrick and St Columcille.
Is a Celtic cross Irish or Scottish?
Found throughout Ireland and Scotland, Celtic crosses predate Christianity and were first used by pagans in the worship of the sun. In pagan times, the Celtic cross was known as a Sun Cross or Sun Wheel and was a symbol of Odin, the Norse god. The circle in the cross is now widely known to represent the sun.
Can a Catholic wear a Celtic cross?
The Irish Celtic Cross is a symbol that conjures up all the mystery of the Dark Ages. It is also a popular symbol of faith, whether the belief is pagan, christian or of any other religion. Catholics usually refer to this style of cross –- with a ring connecting the four sections –- as the Irish Cross.
What symbol is a circle with a cross?
A square cross interlocking with or surrounded by a circle is one of the most popular symbols used by individuals and organisations to represent white nationalism, white supremacy, Neo-Nazism, and white pride. In its Celtic cross form, it is used as the logo for white nationalist website Stormfront.
