With St. Brigid's Day 2025 upon us, we figured you might want to brush up on the history and traditions of the iconic St. Brigid's Cross - and learn how to make your own!
In 2023, Ireland ushered in its newest bank holiday, St. Brigid's Day, in honor of Ireland's female patron saint.
While St. Brigid's Day falls on February 1, the Irish bank holiday is observed on the first Monday in February, except where St. Brigid’s Day happens to fall on a Friday, in which case that Friday, February 1 will be the public holiday.
For 2025, the St. Brigid's Day bank holiday in Ireland is on Monday, February 3.
What is the history and traditions of St. Brigid's Cross?
In 2024, the weaving of St. Brigid's Cross was added to Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which provides official State recognition of cultural practices all around Ireland.
According to the National Inventory, the tradition of weaving St. Brigid’s Crosses is based on a legend about how Saint Brigid converted a dying chieftain. To explain the new Christian faith to him, she improvised making a cross from rushes which was all that was available to her in the location.
The written tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, but the oral traditions dates back to at least the 5th century when legend tells us that St. Brigid herself wove a cross from rushes. The crosses were blessed and hung over doors and windows of the house, the byres, and stables, to protect the family and all the animals against fire, storms, lightning, and illness.
The National Inventory explains that traditionally, the rushes used to make St. Brigid's Crosses were collected on January 31, the evening before her feast day. This was done before dark, with the rushes collected and brought in, sometimes with a ceremony involving the youngest child in the house or in other cases where a prayer was said. Once this was done, the family and sometimes neighbours would gather and make these crosses.
Another variation of this custom was on St Brigid’s Eve, a member of the family, usually the father, would gather rushes and leave them at the door. At nightfall, a member of the family would go outside and call to the people in the house to let Brigid in. They all shout a welcome while on their knees and this is repeated three times. The family then made St. Brigid's Cross from the rushes and the following day, holy water was sprinkled on them.
The National Inventory notes that the traditional meal before making the St. Brigid's Crosses was a supper of potatoes and freshly churned butter. Often, colcannon was made by adding chopped cabbage, then apple cakes or barmbrack followed with tea. The family would eat this meal together and make their St. Brigid’s crosses.
These crosses were then left out on the doorstep or on the windowsill, with the belief that Brigid blessed them as she passed by during the night.
According to the National Museum of Ireland today, the St Brigid’s Cross is still a familiar feature in many Irish homes where it is often pinned up above the front door or in the kitchen.
Although straw, rushes, and reeds were most common, grass, hay, wood, goose quills, wire, and fabric have all been used to make St. Brigid's Crosses. Whatever material was used, it was sprinkled with holy water beforehand and a prayer to welcome the saint into the home was often recited.
Traditional designs were diamond, interlaced, or wheel-shaped and could have two, three, or four arms. In some areas of the west coast, two strips of wood were tied together to form a simple cross.
How to make a St. Brigid's Cross
The experts over at Into Kildare, the official tourism body for Co Kildare, have shared this helpful step-by-step guide on how to make a St. Brigid's Cross.
What you need to make a St. Brigid's Cross:
- 16 reeds or straws: Rushes are traditional, but get creative with alternatives!
- 4 small rubber bands
- Scissors
Step-by-step instructions on how to make a St. Brigid's Cross
Step 1: Start with the First Reed
Hold one reed vertically. Fold a second reed in half and place the vertical reed in the centre of the folded second reed.
Step 2: Secure the Centre
Pinch the overlap tightly between your thumb and forefinger to form the base of the cross.
Step 3: Add the Third Reed
Rotate the reeds 90 degrees anti-clockwise so the open ends of the folded reed point upward. Fold a third reed in half and lay it horizontally over the vertical reed from left to right. Hold it securely.
Step 4: Build the Cross
Rotate the reeds 90 degrees anti-clockwise again so the open ends of the last reed point upward. Fold another reed in half and weave it across the others.
Step 5: Repeat Until All Reeds Are Used
Keep adding folded reeds, rotating the group 90 degrees anti-clockwise each time. Continue until all 16 reeds are woven into the cross.
Step 6: Secure the Arms
Wrap a rubber band around the ends of each arm to keep everything in place.
Step 7: Trim and Finish
Use scissors to trim the ends of the reeds, making all arms equal in length. Your St. Brigid’s Cross is now complete and ready to display!
You can watch Sr Mary from Solas Bhríde in Co Kildare make a St. Brigid's Cross here:
H/T: IntoKildare.ie, Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the National Museum of Ireland, and Solas Bhríde.