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At Walker Metalsmiths we follow the tradition of making a new Saint Brigid cross design every year. The feast day of Saint Brigid is February 1st, marking the beginning of the spring season of Imbolc—a time of renewal and light returning to the world.
The folk custom of weaving a cross out of grass or reeds is done in memory of the story about how Brigid made a similar cross herself from the rushes on the floor while telling the story of Christ's Passion at the bedside of a dying pagan chieftain. The woven grass cross is displayed over the door or hearth, invoking Brigid's blessing on the home, while last year's cross is traditionally fed to the family cow or horse for good luck.
A reed cross photographed at Saint Brigid's well on Dun I, Isle of Iona, Scotland
Our jewelry making process takes longer than weaving straw, so we start our annual cross projects in the week before February 1st. Feeding gold or silver jewelry to your animals is not likely to go well, so we advise our customers to treat their Saint Brigid crosses as heirlooms—to be kept for a lifetime and passed to future generations, just as these stories and traditions have been passed on to us from previous generations.
Stephen Walker at Saint Brigid's well on Dun I, Isle of Iona, Scotland, 2017. Saint Brigid's well is a pool of water near the summit of Dun I, the highest point on the island. This remarkable pool of water is believed to have healing properties and was described in the 1905 classic Celtic Revival book "Isle of Dreams" by Fiona MacLeod.
Brigid lived in the 5th and 6th centuries in Ireland. Along with Patrick and Columba, she is considered one of Ireland's three patron saints. Many customs and legends are associated with Brigid:
February 1st marks Imbolc (pronounced "IM-olk"), one of the four major Celtic seasonal festivals. It celebrates the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox—the first stirrings of spring, the lengthening days, and the return of light. Brigid, as a goddess of fire and fertility before becoming a Christian saint, presides over this threshold time of transformation and new beginnings.
Honor the tradition of Ireland's beloved saint with our handcrafted St. Brigid's cross jewelry. Each design is created with reverence for this ancient custom, made to become a treasured heirloom passed through generations.
Explore the rich symbolism and history behind Celtic jewelry. Read about Celtic Cross history and symbolism or discover our complete Celtic Cross collection.
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Prints of Michael O’Conner’s illuminated Saint Patrick’s Breastplate, one of his greatest masterpieces, are now available to the public for the first time.
Many people don’t understand that this kind of small-town life still exists in America. You might think in stereotypes like Mayberry, but there aren’t really towns like that anymore, are there? Not Mayberry exactly, but yes, something similar and half a century later.
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