Saint Bridget of Ireland.
A national saint in her own right, Saint Bridget of Ireland or St. Bride (the Bright one) is the inspiration for the lovely St. Bridget Pendant Necklace, seen below, which I created in her honor. The crystals I have chosen embody the lore, traditions and customs associated with St. Bridget, which we continue to this day.
St. Bridget is one of our most important patron saints of Ireland.
This lovely, fine silver winged pendant is handmade and finished to a very high standard of craftsmanship. In this pendant, St. Bridget is represented by 6 gemstones; Garnet for her tireless devotion and protector of the household and the hearth fire; Moonstone in her capacity as patroness of mothers, children and childbirth; and lastly, the fresh, green gemstone Peridot, showing her as the herald of spring birth and regeneration, protector of farm, crops and livestock, and guardian of the sacred wells, whose waters were said to heal all manner of disease.
Saint Bridget`s feast-day is celebrated on the 1st. of February, which corresponds with the Gaelic festival of Imbolc. Most school children in Ireland bring rushes to school around this time, to make a saint Bridget`s cross; my own children would always bring one home every year.
Making a St. Brigid’s cross is one of the traditional rituals in Ireland to celebrate the beginning of early spring, 1st February. The crosses are made of rushes that are pulled rather than cut. They are hung by the door and in the rafters to protect the house from fire and evil. According to tradition a new cross is made each St Brigid’s Day, and the old one is burned to keep fire from the house.
Love and blessings,
Linda.