Welcome Bridget! Welcome Spring!

One exciting aspect of being a reenactor is how your research leads you to discover more about a culture. For example, most everyone recognizes St. Patrick as the patron saint of Ireland. But not everyone has heard of St. Bridget, whose feast day, February First, is considered the first day of Spring in Ireland.

Born in 451, she was a nun and founded several convents. In 470, she founded Kildare Abbey and became its abbesses. As a testament to the power of women in Ireland the abbess at Kildare had the same authority as a bishop. The abbey she founded became famous for its illuminated manuscripts and metalwork. Named after the fire goddess, it is fitting that Bridget and her nuns kept a scared fire burning at the abbey. The fire was kept lit until the suppression of the monasteries throughout Ireland in the sixteenth century.

Her most enduring symbol is the St. Bridget’s cross. A uniquely shaped four cornered cross made from rushes. Hung in a doorway it offers a home protection from fire and lightening.

Another way to have the saint’s protection is to wear a Brat Bride or St. Bridget’s Mantle. This is a strip of cloth or ribbon left outside on the eve of the feast day (January 31). Bridget walks the earth on this night and will bless the strips of cloth, giving them healing and protecting powers. Also left out on a windowsill is fresh bread and butter for the saint and some corn for her cow that she brings along.

It is believed that Bridget’s mother was a slave in charge of her master’s diary and Bridget would often help. Bridget would also give away much of the milk and butter, yet somehow the diary never lacked for foodstuff. It is because of her association with the farming life that she is the patron saint of people and animals that are part of the farm: milk maids, dairy farmers and cattle. And her association with the farming life that many foods associated with her are made from grain such as oat cakes and beer.

Whether you watch for Bridget or the groundhog the next day, it feels good to know Spring is coming!