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Saint Brigid, second only to St Patrick as the patron saint
of Ireland, is also commonly known as Saint Bride or Bridget
(451-523AD). According to tradition, she was a woman of
great beauty and ability. She was brought up in a Druid
household, but not wishing to marry her chosen suitor, at
the age of 14, she went to live as one of the first nuns
in a small convent under a large oak. The monastery of Kildare
was later founded there. The name Kildare means Church of
the Oak. (She was also the patroness of the Knights of Chivalry
and it is suggested that the word bride entered the English
language because these knights married women who became
their very own 'brides'.)
It is a traditional Irish story,
that while teaching a dying old man about Christianity,
St. Brigid made a cross from rushes in order to explain
the crucifixion and the message of salvation. This was the
first St Brigids Cross. St Brigid Crosses were hung in stables
and houses to bring protection to the family and animals.
Even to this day similar crosses are made, and placed in
the rafters of a dwelling to protect from harm.
The feast
day of Saint Brigid is celebrated on the first day of February,
the supposed day of her death (This is also the date of
the Celtic fire festival of Imbolc, celebrating the return
of light after the darkness of winter.) As this is the first
day of spring also in the Celtic calendar, it was an important
time for farmers as it was a sign of the end of winter.
So to see a hedgehog was supposed to be a good sign, because
he wouldn't come out if he thought that the weather wasn't
going to be good. In Scotland, the oystercatcher is known
as Gillebridean, the 'Guide of St Bride', for she was supposed
to send the birds to guide sailors to safety. |