Historien om St. Brigid / The story of St. Brigid
News
01 February 2022
English below
Historien om St. Brigid
St. brigid er Irlands kvindelige skytsengel, som fejrers d. 1. februar. Hun siges at være født i Dundalk, Irland i år 450. Hun er grundlægger af det første irske kloster i County Kildare.
Natten mellen d. 1. og 2. februar kommer St. Brigid på besøg og velsigner folks hjem. Ofte bliver dagen fejret ved at lave brigidkors, der flettes af siv og hænges op for at byde St. Brigit velkommen.
I dag bruges dagen ofte som en anledning til at fejre kvinder og fremhæve fremstående kvinder indenfor kunst, politik, innovation og andet.
Historien om st. Brigid er som følger…
Der var engang en gammel hedensk høvding, der lå på renden af døden I Kildare (nogle tror at han var St. Brigids far), hans tjenere kaldte Brigid til ham, I håb om at hun ville være i stand til at berolige hans sjæl. Det siges at Brigid sad ved hans seng for at trøste og berolige ham, da hun samlede siv op fra gulvet og begyndte at flette det i et kors-lignende mønster. Mens hun flettede, forklarede hun den døende høvding om korsets betydning, og historien siger, at hendes ord bragte fred til hans sjæl og førte til at han blev døbt som kristen kort inden sin død.
Siden den dag, har det været en tradition at irerne fletter brigidkort af strå eller siv og placerer dem over døren til hjemmet på St. Brigid’s dag. Det siges at brigidkortset holder ondskab, ild og sult ude af hjemmet.
Brigidkortset er gennem historien blevet brugt i Irsk design, og kan stadig findes i smykker og irske souvenirs.
I videoen nederst på siden finder du en guide til hvordan, man kan flette et Brigidkors af papir.
The story of St. Brigid
St. Brigid, also known as “Mary of the Gael”, is an abbess and patroness of Ireland. She is furthermore the founder of the first Irish monastery in County Kildare, Ireland. Born in Dundalk in 450 AD, St Brigid is accredited with first creating the unique cross which bears her name. This cross is normally hand created from rushes however occasionally straw is also used.
The tale as we know it is as follows....
There was an old pagan Chieftain who lay delirious on his deathbed in Kildare (some believe this was her father) and his servants summoned Brigid to his bedside in the hope that the saintly woman may calm his restless spirit. Brigid is said to have sat by his bed, consoling and calming him and it is here that she picked up the rushes from the floor and began weaving them into the distinctive cross pattern. Whilst she weaved, she explained the meaning of the cross to the sick Chieftain and it is thought her calming words brought peace to his soul. He was so enamoured by her words that the old Chieftain requested he be baptized as a Christian just before his passing.
Since that day, and for the centuries that followed, it has been customary on the eve of her Feast Day (1st February) for the Irish people to fashion a St. Brigid's Cross of straw or rushes and place it inside the house over the door.
The distinctive St. Brigid’s Cross design, made from woven rushes, is thought to keep evil, fire and hunger from the homes in which it is displayed, however the tale of its creation is somewhat confused, and there is not one definitive version.
This rush cross, which became St. Brigid’s emblem, has been used in Irish designs throughout history, with many modern stylists using this now popular Irish symbol within the designs of Irish jewellery and Irish gifts.
See the video below on how to make this distinctive Cross with paper, some fun for both Adults and Children.
If you want to find other ways to celebrate St. Brigid’s day, go to the To Be Irish website.