St. Brigid's Cross

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950322009130716236.post-39606564945092515312008-02-01T05:25:00.000-08:002008-04-11T11:09:47.622-07:00St. Brigid's Cross<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6IZWC5le4I/AAAAAAAAAeo/39NmQ83fu7o/s1600-h/catalog:Times.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6IZWC5le4I/AAAAAAAAAeo/39NmQ83fu7o/s400/catalog:Times.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161715989446228866" /></a> February 1st is the first day of spring on the Celtic calendar and St. Brigid's day. The day is celebrated in parts of Ireland by hanging a cross woven of rushes on the door for twelvemonth's luck. This is a simplified version using recycled paper. PREPARING THE STRIPS You can use newspaper (I used 1/2 page), catalogs (I used double page spread), or brown paper grocery bag. 1. Cut the paper into four equal sections. I did it by folding the paper in half and cutting it along the fold and then folding each half in half and cutting along the fold to make four pieces. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Iwti5le_I/AAAAAAAAAfg/lQoeOT4c_cY/s1600-h/strip1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Iwti5le_I/AAAAAAAAAfg/lQoeOT4c_cY/s200/strip1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161741681940593650" /></a> 2. Fold each piece into thirds the long way. Open the paper, cover it with glue (I used a glue stick), and fold it and smooth it out to help the glue adhere. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Iw3i5lfAI/AAAAAAAAAfo/MZIjhNgY4E0/s1600-h/strip2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Iw3i5lfAI/AAAAAAAAAfo/MZIjhNgY4E0/s200/strip2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161741853739285506" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6IxCy5lfBI/AAAAAAAAAfw/cgv8g_ZH_Fw/s1600-h/strip3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6IxCy5lfBI/AAAAAAAAAfw/cgv8g_ZH_Fw/s200/strip3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161742047012813842" /></a> 3. Fold each piece in half. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6IyMy5lfCI/AAAAAAAAAf4/CK1ezPOhTns/s1600-h/strip4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6IyMy5lfCI/AAAAAAAAAf4/CK1ezPOhTns/s200/strip4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161743318323133474" /></a> MAKING THE CROSS 1. STRIP 1-VERTICAL Place it so that the fold is at the top. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Io5C5le9I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/SoH6uSUqpz0/s1600-h/cross1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Io5C5le9I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/SoH6uSUqpz0/s400/cross1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161733083416067026" /></a> 2. STRIP 2-HORIZONTAL With the fold on the right, place it inside Strip 1. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Ioui5le8I/AAAAAAAAAfI/0KNaDASbYVk/s1600-h/cross2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Ioui5le8I/AAAAAAAAAfI/0KNaDASbYVk/s400/cross2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161732903027440578" /></a> 3. STRIP 3-VERTICAL With the fold on the bottom, place it inside Strip 2. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6IolC5le7I/AAAAAAAAAfA/ZGbdRqYiw5k/s1600-h/cross3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6IolC5le7I/AAAAAAAAAfA/ZGbdRqYiw5k/s400/cross3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161732739818683314" /></a> 4. STRIP 4-HORIZONTAL With the fold on the left, place it outside Strip 1 and inside Strip 2. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6In7S5le6I/AAAAAAAAAe4/503eK2TnReY/s1600-h/cross4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6In7S5le6I/AAAAAAAAAe4/503eK2TnReY/s400/cross4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161732022559144866" /></a> 5. Pull on the ends of the strips to tighten the cross. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Im_i5le5I/AAAAAAAAAew/aOmTTjEL_zE/s1600-h/cross5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_B7gY6DksAuw/R6Im_i5le5I/AAAAAAAAAew/aOmTTjEL_zE/s400/cross5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161730996061961106" /></a> 6. Keep the two layers of each strip together by tying the ends (I used pieces of NY Times delivery plastic bags and twist ties) or with glue. Because the strips will still shift a little if you move the cross around, you may want to add a little glue (white glue on a toothpick or strip of heavy paper) inside the center of the cross. See an <a href="http://www.irlonline.com/cross/">authentic cross</a> made from rushes. Learn <a href="http://www.crosscrucifix.com/articlehome.htm">more</a> about St. Brigid's crosses St. Brigid (Brighid, Bridget) was preceded by the goddess Brigid. You can find more information about the goddess and the saint at <a href="http://www.applewarrior.com/celticwell/ejournal/imbolc/">The Celtic Well</a> and <a href="http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ASaints/Brigit.html">Irish Culture and Customs</a>. I found information about St. Brigid and her crosses in the following books: All Silver and No Brass by Henry Glassie The Year in Ireland: A Calendar by Kevin DanaherSusan Kapuscinski Gaylordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10174952588173490738noreply@blogger.com