Known for her lessons of love and enlightenment, St. Brigid was the founder of the first monastery in Ireland. We hope the St. Brigid’s Cross Pendant will protect its wearer from evil, fire, and hunger.
Design Details
Available in bronze and sterling silver, this pendant is 1 ½” tall by 1 ½” wide (38 x 38 mm)and comes with an 18” gold or silver-tone steel chain.
Historical Inspiration
The distinctive St Brigid’s Cross is thought to keep its owner safe from evil, fire and hunger. It is likely a very old symbol, possibly with pre-Christian origins as a symbol of the sun, similar to the sun wheel amulets found throughout Europe in the Bronze Age.
St Brigid (also known as “Mary of the Gael”) was an abbess and patroness of Ireland, and was the founder of the first Irish monastery in Kildare. Legend holds that Brigid was summoned by servants to the deathbed of their old pagan chieftain, in the hope that the saintly woman might be able to calm his restless spirit. (In some versions of the story this chieftain is her father) As she sat by his bedside, soothing him with kind words, she picked up some of the rushes which were strewn across the floor of the room. She began weaving them together into a cross, explained the meaning of the cross to the sick man as she did. Her calming words brought peace to his soul. The chieftan’s fever broke, and he grew quiet. Captivated by her lesson of love and enlightenment, the old chieftan was baptized as a Christian, just before his death.
Since that time, on the eve of St Brigid's Feast Day ( February 1st), followers of this saint will fashion a St Brigid's cross out of reeds or grasses and hang the cross over the door in the hopes of drawing protection to their abode for the year to come.
