Who was Saint Brigid and what is the significance of the woven cross associated with her?
Saint Brigid's Day (Lá Fhéile Bríde) is marked each year on 1 February and honours Ireland's most famous female saint and Ireland's first native saint.
Marking Saint Brigid's Day, Dr Anne O'Dowd provides a history of the Saint Brigid's Cross (Bogha Bríde), the symbol of the day. The cross is traditionally made from reeds or straw collected in the fields and crafted into a cross. Dr O'Dowd says that the origins of the cross are unclear but has its roots in pagan customs. The Saint Brigid's Cross comes in all shapes and sizes but the most famous form is that which is the emblem for RTÉ.
Designed by Don Farrell and John Cogan
Presenter Colin Murnane recalls the story of St Brigid from when he was at primary school. St Brigid was presented as a nun-like figure who had been converted to Christianity after St Patrick came to Ireland. The story goes that she travelled Ireland on a mission to convert pagans to Christianity. As one of the pagans lay on their death bed, Brigid crafted a cross from reeds. This is just one of the many stories of the origins of the cross.
Dr O'Dowd says that St Brigid was probably born in County Louth into a wealthy farming family and Brigid used to give away her father's wealth. To replace the wealth, she would make crosses from reeds and rushes. She has no real explanation as to why there are so many varities of crosses. Traditionally, the symbols were made on the eve of the Feast of Saint Brigid to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
They make them to bring good luck to the house.
One of the more unusual examples of a Saint Brigid's Cross comes from County Roscommon made of just two sheaves of straw with a potato stuck in the middle to bring good luck to the crop.
This episode of 'Jo-Maxi' was broadcast on 1 February 1993. The presenters are Colin Murnane and Shauna Lowry.
