St Brigid of Kildare
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Druidism to Christianity
The transition from Druidism to Christianity in Ireland was a very smooth one. The Druids of Ireland held beliefs very similar to Christian beliefs and did not see Christianity as a threat but welcomed it and helped to smooth the path for people like Bridget of Kildare.
Brigid was born in Dundalk in Co Louth Ireland in 451 to Dubhthach (a pagan chieftain of Leinster) and Brocca (a Christian who had been baptised by St Patrick). She was named Brigid after the pagan goddess of fire.
St Brigid is one of the patron saints of Ireland; her feast day is February 1st. She is the most famous female leader of the early Christian church in Ireland. She was born into a Druid family but her interest in Christianity probably started early and was most likely to have been influenced by her Mother Brocca. Brocca was believed to have been captured into slavery around the same time as St Patrick and was baptised by him during the six years he spent in Ireland converting people to Christianity.
Brigid became a nun and founded many monasteries in Ireland including one in Kildare, which is why she is known as Brigid of Kildare.
St Brigid's Cross
The St Brigid's cross is a very common symbol in Ireland and was featured in the motif for Irelands National television station Raidió Teilifís Éireann during the 1970's.
St Brigid's Cross was placed above the door or the fire hearth in many houses in the past to protect the house from fire and evil.
Traditionally a new cross was made on 1st February which is the Feast Day of St Brigid, and to this day children make them in school from rushes.
About St Brigid
She was very beautiful and legend has it that she became even more beautiful after she became a nun.
She founded the Abbey in Kildare which became one of the most prestigeous monastries in Europe.
She spent a lot of her life helping the poor, and once sold her Fathers jewel encrusted sword to feed the poor.
She died in 525 at the age of 75 and was buried in a tomb in the Abbey Monastry. Later her body was exhumed and she was layed to rest with the other two Patron Saints of Ireland St Patrick and St Colmcille. Her skull was extracted by two Irish Nobelmen and taken to Lisbon where it remains today. It is widely beleived that Brigids Mother was born in Portugal.
The St Brigid's cross is a very common symbol in Ireland and was featured in the motif for Irelands Nationa Raidió Teilifís Éireann during the 1970's.
St Brigids Cross was placed above the door or the fire hearth in many houses in the past to protect the house from fire and evil.
Tradiontionally a new cross was made on 1st February which is the Feast Day of St Brigid, and to this day children make them in school from rushes.
kildare - Co Kildare where St Brigid founded her first monastery
