February 1st--St Brigid's Day

[Maeve]

Whether you spell it Bridget, Brigid or Brighid, she's the second patron saint of Ireland and her feast day is the traditional beginning of Spring and the start of the farmer's year. It is a day for taking stock of your winter supplies to see how tight things are for the rest of the cold season. It is also traditionally a day for bairin-breac also called barm brack, a form of fruitcake. Fancy crosses were (and are) woven from straw or rushes. There are many designs, but the most familiar is a four-legged cross--you can get instructions on making one from http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/MakingBrigdXs.html

Brigid was a real person, altho her story has been blended with the goddess that she shares a name. She founded a double monastery in Kildare around 470 and was abbess of the convent. It is believed that she acted as a bishop. She also founded a school of art and the Book of Kildare was praised as one of the finest of all illuminated manscripts (sadly, it disappeared three centuries ago). She is buried at Downpatrick, along with St Patrick and St Columba.

[pelagius]

1. One of the great Celtic saints!

It is believed that she acted as a bishop.

If I understand correctly, there are references to her consecration as a bishop and the controversy is whether this ordination was a mistake or valid.

More about can be found at this (non-Catholic) site:

http://www.allsaintsbrookline.org/celtic/saints/brigid.html

EWTN has an article that flatly denies Brigid was made a bishop although it recognizes she acted as one:

http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/BRIGID.htm

[Maeve]

2. Intersting sites

Altho the writer of the EWTN article manages to squeeze much of the life right out of a great tale (scholars seldom make decent storytellers, but good teachers often make wonderful ones)

[CBHagman]

3. Thanks for the heads-up, Maeve.

I hadn't realized it was the feast of St. Bridget, about whom I've heard interesting stories. I don't recall the one about her being a bishop, but I'm certainly glad to hear it!

By the way, I chose NOT to get off the train at Kildare on my one and only visit to Ireland, and I am kicking myself to this day...