The Irish Way of Dyeing

Discussion of St. Brigid’s Cross as a Complex Symbol

“…The reason why St. Brigid's Day has been receiving so much attention and academic enthusiam is not only because that it is a christianization of one of the focal points of the agricultural year in Ireland, but also because that it is the festival of Ireland's much venerated and loved saint, St. Brigid. In Ireland, the love she received is not less than that of St. Patrick, not to mention she is also the patroness of cattle and of dairy work [2] . This echoes to the old name associated with the festival -Imbolc, whose basic meaning has much to do with the notion of milking and milk-production [3] .…”

“…On that day, or mostly on the eve before 1 February, crosses are made of straw (mostly), rushes or wood. The "cros bríde" (St. Brigid's Cross in Irish) is supposed to be hung up in the dwelling-house, and often in byre and stables as well, to honour the saint and to gain her protection [8] . After making the crosses, people sprinkle the crosses with holy water, so that the cross can protect the occupants from fire, calamity and sickness [9] .…”

“…Figure 1: A kind of St. Brigid's cross [8] As in most festivals, people need something tangible to repose their interests. In this case, it is St. Brigid's cross, and it embodies much cultural heritage.…”

“…He wrote, "In explanation of why the crosses were made and put up, tradition without hestitation answers 'protection'. Protection against fire, storm and lightning is the most usual reason givem, but illness and epidemic disease were also held at bay by the cross, while evil spirits could not enter the house where it hung near the door" [14] . The cross would be hung every year, when a new year comes, without being replaced.…”

“…By doing this, the animals are free of diseases and dangers, and even the evil magic would do them no harm. It is a good time to tame the unruly animals or bring them to the fair, too [15] .…”