Words: Dray Morgan
St. Brigid’s day occurs on 1 February, celebrating Ireland’s patroness saint and women in Ireland in general. Otherwise known as Imbolc, the day is one of Ireland’s oldest feasts and pre-dates Ireland’s Christian heritage. Since its inception over 1000 years ago, various traditions have been birthed and passed, marking the start of the Irish spring.
St. Brigid festivities can be traced back to the 7th century, with 1 February celebrations even further. Occurring three months after the first day of winter, Samhain, it marks the start of life again in the pagan and Christian calendars. There are many passage tombs which align with sunrise on this day, including The Hill of Tara as well as The Mound of the Hostage and Cairn L in Meath.
Who Was St Brigid?
There is very little known about the actual Saint Brigid, also know as Brigid of Kildare. It is believed that her title was a means of “Christianising” Pagan folklore as Ireland transitioned away from its original religious roots.
Brigid was originally known as the daughter of an Irish clan chief, who was enslaved and then fostered by druids. She also shares roots with Gaelic Goddess Brigid, who was Goddess of Poets. Christian monks took the ancient figure of the mother goddess and grafted her name and functions onto her Christian counterpart.
There is a shrine to St. Brigid in Faughart, County Louth where thousands would make a pilgrimage too each year.
St Brigid’s Cross
On St Brigid’s Day, the most common tradition is to weave a St Brigid’s Cross consisting of rushes. This coincides with he tradition of welcoming Brigid into the home. Cross would be displayed on the doors of households and to welcome the Saint’s “virtuous presence” as the sunlight became more abundant in Ireland. People would also leave items of clothing outside, with it being believed that these clothes would harness healing powers when they collected them the next morning.
There are various traditions across Gaelic country’s of physically welcoming in Brigid by knocking on doors and saying phrases such as “She is welcome” aloud.
Strawboys
A doll known as a Brídeóg (little Brigid) would be paraded around local communities by women and girls whilst singing hymns. Every house would be visited, with locals either providing food or clothing for Brídeóg. Afterwards, women would feast and men would have to ask permission to be let into the homes of the celebrations.
Similar to the wren boys seen on St Stephen’s Day, some processions would see mask boys dressed in straw and playing folk music, asking for pennies for “poor Biddy”.
Modern Times
Nowadays, St Brigid’s Day is also used as a day to celebrate women in Ireland. In 2022, Dublin hosted its first St Brigid’s Day festival, exhibiting Irish Women’s history through poetry, film and music. In 2023, St Brigid’s Day was marked as a national holiday for the first time, making it the first Irish public holiday to be named after a woman.