Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

It's St Brigid's Day Woooot

  • 01-02-2010 2:32am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,175 ✭✭✭Red_Marauder


    Does anybody celebrate this day anymore? It was a pretty big deal when I was a kid, we had the stories/ legends about St Brigid at home and school, and then inevitably trying to make something that vaguely resembled a cross from rushes gathered on an expedition to the moore...where invariably a fight would break out between my siblings and someone would get a smack. Brigid wouldn't have been impressed.

    I have lots of very nice memories about this day but we never really seem to hear about it anymore. Some of the legends are quite cool kids stories, I was just wondering, does anyone celebrate/ take note of this day anymore?

    Disclaimer: I'm not talking about this from a religious point of view, the whole thing is very pagan anyway. I just think it used to be a nice feast day/ tradition from our pre Norman heritage.


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 4,413 ✭✭✭chupacabra


    Does anybody celebrate this day anymore?

    no


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,464 ✭✭✭Celly Smunt


    where'd she learn to make a cross


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,876 ✭✭✭✭Princess Consuela Bananahammock


    Crosses, yes, but that was about it.

    Everything I don't like is either woke or fascist - possibly both - pick one.



  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭ Scarlet Screeching Refugee


    abandonthread.gif


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,886 ✭✭✭Darlughda


    Yes, this is imbolc in the pagan calendar, or st. Brídes day, The sap is risin, and the reign of the winter has come to an end. Brighid is a great Irish lady: patroness of poets, smiths and fire.

    She represents the rising of the fire of the youth and defiance in the face of the old i.e., winter, and what has gone before. She celebrates youth and the sprightly ness of new animals : calves and lambes.

    She is also a godess of healing,arts and crafts. She was such an integral goddess in ancient Ireland that she was incorporated into the christian traditon when the patricians took over in the 5th century.


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,175 ✭✭✭Red_Marauder


    Darlughda wrote: »
    Yes, this is imbolc in the pagan calendar, or st. Brídes day, The sap is risin, and the reign of the winter has come to an end. Brighid is a great Irish lady: patroness of poets, smiths and fire.
    Do you speak with a rural west Clare accent like one might hear at the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre? Cos that's how I read this post!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 25 senbwcs


    We should turn it into a second Paddys day, I fancy a pint.


  • Registered Users Posts: 304 ✭✭MadPatrick


    I remember my nan asking my dad why we didn't make crosses on St. Bridgid's Day. I prefer that I didn't, I have enough useless skills as it is


  • Registered Users Posts: 18,159 ✭✭✭✭phasers


    When I was younger I used to confuse the St Brigid's cross and the swastika


  • Registered Users Posts: 17,186 ✭✭✭✭IvySlayer


    I still have my cross from primary school :D


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    Didn't the femenists try to claim this day a few years back?

    Paddy 1-0 Brigid


  • Registered Users Posts: 81,223 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Nice sunny day, bring on spring!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,818 ✭✭✭Minstrel27


    Magnus wrote: »
    Nice sunny day, bring on spring!

    Spring isn't for another month and a half


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,568 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    St Brigid's day? No, never did.
    It could pass by (and has done) without me even knowing it was such a day.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭Heisenberg.


    This post has been deleted.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,813 ✭✭✭themadchef


    The kids spent a whole day last week making cross after cross in school. Like a little sweat shop it was :D The big box of crosses is then left in the church for all the auld wans.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,743 ✭✭✭funk-you


    Traffic in the towns is gonna be ****e so with all the crinkly rattlers driving to mass. Ah nuts.

    -Funk


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,420 ✭✭✭Dionysus


    Minstrel27 wrote: »
    Spring isn't for another month and a half

    Maybe so in Britain or America. We were always told in school and at home that spring begins today, just as summer begins on 1 May, autumn begins on 1 August and Winter begins on 1 November.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,163 ✭✭✭✭Liam Byrne


    Minstrel27 wrote: »
    Spring isn't for another month and a half

    I did a search on the web when I read this, and I can honestly say that it's the first time I've ever heard of this.

    I was always told - and still take this as true - that the equinoxes are in the MIDDLE of each season.

    Spring = Feb 1st to April 30th (equinox March 20th/21st)
    Summer = May 1st to July 31st (equinox June 20th/21st)
    Autumn = August 1st to October 31st (equinox September 20th/21st)
    Winter = November 1st to January 31st (equinox December 20th/21st)

    Your post (and the resulting search) would be the first time I have EVER heard of the equnioxes being considered to be the start of their respective seasons.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills




  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 32,876 ✭✭✭✭Princess Consuela Bananahammock



    Little known fact: if you spin it fast enough, it produces a hypnotic Twilight-Zone style effect which makes the viewer dumbfounded and unable to change the channel for the next two hours (used to be done prior to the Late Late show)

    Everything I don't like is either woke or fascist - possibly both - pick one.



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,582 ✭✭✭newmember2


    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    I did a search on the web when I read this, and I can honestly say that it's the first time I've ever heard of this.

    I was always told - and still take this as true - that the equinoxes are in the MIDDLE of each season.

    Spring = Feb 1st to April 30th (equinox March 20th/21st)
    Summer = May 1st to July 31st (equinox June 20th/21st)
    Autumn = August 1st to October 31st (equinox September 20th/21st)
    Winter = November 1st to January 31st (equinox December 20th/21st)

    Your post (and the resulting search) would be the first time I have EVER heard of the equnioxes being considered to be the start of their respective seasons.


    There's only two equinoxes - the other two are solstices.

    I used to go to Scoil Bríde primary school in Dublin. February 1st was always highly celebrated - making crosses, class party!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 95 ✭✭Choke


    MadPatrick wrote: »
    I remember my nan asking my dad why we didn't make crosses on St. Bridgid's Day. I prefer that I didn't, I have enough useless skills as it is

    I just realised that while we used to make the crosses in school, I now have absolutely no idea how to make one, should I be so inclined.
    Kinda sad in a way.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,048 ✭✭✭✭Snowie


    I crossed this thread out when i read st brigit dammm curiosity :mad:


  • Registered Users Posts: 365 ✭✭Dubs


    Pipe cleaners at the ready!


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,221 ✭✭✭BluesBerry


    My primary school was called St Bridgids and our school went all out for its namesake we spent the whole day talking about good oul bridgid and making the crosses it was a great away from the mundane school work we had to endure


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,175 ✭✭✭Red_Marauder


    Scien wrote: »
    Originally Posted by Red_Marauder viewpost.gif
    and then inevitably trying to make something that vaguely resembled a cross from rushes gathered on an expedition to the moore....
    Did you grow up in an Emily Bronte novel?
    Moores aren't the preserve of 19th century Yorkshire... 'though instead of Heathcliff with those dark, dark eyes; we midlands children had a rambling, limping pervert named Black Dick.

    It's a pity more people don't engage with the traditions and the legends of St Brigid - it would make a far nicer national holiday in my book
    (plus we'd have today off work to get hammered)


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    Liam Byrne wrote: »
    I did a search on the web when I read this, and I can honestly say that it's the first time I've ever heard of this.

    I was always told - and still take this as true - that the equinoxes are in the MIDDLE of each season.

    They are, but the Irish calendar doesn't use the equinoxes to determine the seasons.

    Wiki link


    I for one always have a st Bridgids cross on the wall.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    We used to get this day off at school as she was the Patron St of it.

    I still never learned how to make her cross though...I guess I was on her good side :pac:


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    WindSock wrote: »
    I still never learned how to make her cross though...I guess I was on her good side :pac:

    Never too late to learn....interesting soundtrack on this one....esp on 2:34 mins


Advertisement