Saint Brigid is back in the news in Ireland in a very big way.
Ireland has been given a brand new Bank Holiday as a national commemoration for those who lost their lives to Covid and to recognize those who worked on the front line of the pandemic, the government has announced.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar has said that the bank holiday is to “recognize all of those workers, volunteers and members of the general public, who helped us in this fight against the pandemic, and especially front line healthcare workers”.
The new holiday will be on Friday 18 March this year, creating a four-day weekend because it falls immediately after the bank holiday for Saint Patrick’s Day. The holiday also marks the Celtic festival of Imbolc, or rebirth and the coming of spring. Days are getting brighter and spirits are getting lighter as the better weather begins and we move on from winter.
It’s also seen as a way and day to celebrate women, with the Irish government’s website describing the Celtic goddess’s heritage as a “symbol of feminine energy”. Campaigners for the new holiday pointed out Saint Brigid’s “healing powers and compassion for the sick and poor” as a timeless and important message.
The Saint Brigid’s cross is not as well known a symbol worldwide as the Claddagh but it is a truly beautiful Irish symbol - particularly with this new focus on this iconic woman and saint, who is one of Ireland’s patron saints along with Saint Patrick and Saint Columba. The small cross was usually woven from rushes and typically it had four arms tied at the ends and a woven square in the middle. The crosses were traditionally made in Ireland on Saint Brigid’s feast day, 1st February.
It’s an opportune time to wear one of these beautiful crosses which replicate an actual Saint Brigid’s cross and look sensational as a necklace in either gold or silver or white gold.
Celebrate the spirit of Saint Brigid with style!