Brigid's Cross ("Cros Bhríde")
St. Brigid’s cross hung over door
Which did the house from fire secure
As Gillo thought, O powerful charm
To keep a house from taking harm;
And tho’ the dogs and servants slept,
By Brigid’s care the house was kept.
1735 poem
The truly unique ritual of this Feast day was the making of the Brigid’s Cross ('Cros Bhríde'). These crosses were made from rushes gathered from a local stream or river. The four sides are equidistant and often though to be more representative of the four elements or the four directions, unlike the Christian cross, which is longer in length on one side and signifies sacrifice. In Sligo seven rushes are used for each side of the cross so that there are 28 stalks in all (one for each day of the month of February). There are several variants on the cross for various parts of the country, or depending on how the cross is to be used. (sometimes they are placed in barns and used for the protection of livestock). Most Irish homes still have a Brigid's cross hanging over the door. Many Irish brought this custom to the New World across many oceans with them also. Many are placed in cars also. Never leave home without it!
The cakes baked on this day were also often made in the shape of a cross. Many were fed to the Biddy Boys in exchange for their entertainment.