1st February: St. Brigid of Ireland

Today is the feast day of Saint Brigid of Ireland, and/or the goddess Brigid. here's all you need to know about Saint Brigid:

1. St Brigid is the patron saint of Iceland, New Zealand, poultry farmers, poets, dairymaids, blacksmiths, healers, cattle, fugitives, Irish nuns, midwives, and new-born babies. She is invoked against Fire.
2. As with many saints, she may have been a Christianised pagan goddess - the Irish goddess Brigid was celebrated on the same day and is associated with similar things. Some have speculated that she was a high priestess of a community of druid women, who worshipped the goddess Brigid, and that she led the entire community into the Christian faith.
3. Legend has it that Brigid was born into slavery, her mother having been sold to a druid when she became pregnant. Brigid was such a holy baby that she vomited anything the druid fed her because he was impure and God had to send a special Cow to provide her with milk. As she grew up, she would give away her owner's belongings.
4. She is known for her generosity to the poor. Supplies of food would be replenished when she prayed. When she gave away the sword of a king she was to be sold to, the king realised why she was doing it and granted her her freedom.
5. She is also said to have founded a school of art, teaching metalwork and illumination.
6. In England, there are 19 ancient churches dedicated to her. In Scotland, East and West Kilbride are named after her. Several places in Wales are named Llansantaffraid, meaning "St. Bride's Church."
7. The best known custom connected with Brigid is the plaiting of reed crosses for her feast day. This tradition comes from the story that she was plaiting rush crosses while nursing a pagan chieftain who was dying. He asked her about it and her explanation led to his being converted. Elaborate rush crosses are woven on this day to commemorate this.
8. In Ireland, offerings of Yellow flowers are made at sacred wells dedicated to her.
9. She is portrayed in art with a cow lying at her feet, because she used to be a cowgirl; or holding a cross and casting out the devil. Her emblem is a lighted lamp or candle. Plants associated with her are the Madonna Lily and Winflower and her colour is White.
10. According to legend, her head was taken to Portugal by knights on their way to the crusades after she died and her Skull is kept in a church in Lumiar. A couple of bone fragments from this skull were later sent to churches in Ireland bearing her name.

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