PRIMARY pupils in south Belfast have shared their preparations for a special celebration marking the 1500th anniversary of St Brigid’s death.
The festivities at St Bride’s PS on Thursday will include the creation of a special quilt, songs and weaving traditional crosses.
One of Ireland’s three patron saints alongside Patrick and Columba, St Brigid’s profile has grown in recent years and is now an official public holiday in the Republic.
Sharing her name with a pagan goddess, history and legend often overlap in St Brigid’s story.
Thought to have been born in Dundalk around 450AD to a pagan chieftain of Leinster and a Christian slave mother, she is famous for founding an important monastery in Co Kildare and for her kindness and faith.
Popular myths about her life also include how after asking her father for land to build a monastery he would only grant her as much land as her cloak would cover – but with God’s help the cloak grew to cover multiple acres.
The weaved St Brigid’s Cross originates from a story of how she converted a dying pagan chieftain – possibly her father – to Christianity by gathering rushes from the ground to build a cross.
St Brigid’s Feast day is now held each year on February 1 – the same date as the Gaelic festival of Imbolc that marks the beginning of Spring.
On Sunday, there was also a major event in Kildare as relic of the Irish saint was returned to her hometown after 1,000 years away.
Speaking to The Irish News, St Bride’s vice principal Otteran Joyce said she was delighted with the efforts from pupils and staff.
“We decided this year to make the celebrations even bigger and better,” she said.
“Our school colours are yellow and blue, St Brigid’s colours, so we’ve all the bunting is up and the children have done exceptional artwork.
“One of our classroom assistants also suggested that we make a cloak in line with the legend.
“So all the pupils from P5-7 designed their own little patch about what Brigid means to them.”
On Thursday, pupil will also attend a special mass in the nearby St Brigid’s Parish Church where children will have their rushes blessed.
“We always celebrate St Patrick’s in our school but we’ve never celebrated St Brigid as well,” Ms Joyce added.
“The children totally engage with the stories. The younger pupils are having story telling sessions all about the life of St Brigid.
“The children love artwork, they find it very therapeutic and there’s just a lovely buzz around the school.”
Nearly 1,000 pins of the St Brigid’s Cross have been ordered for the school, while the children have also sent out cards to the local community.
While the historical facts of Brigid’s life are often debated, Ms Joyce said her story still has value for young people today.
“Even if you don’t believe in St Brigid, when you read up there’s questions about whether she’s a legend or an old god, the story that’s told about her is all about kindness and goodness,” she said.
“Isn’t that a lovely thing? Even if you don’t believe in her you can still try and live your life like her.”
