It’s been many weeks since I joined Cathy at Rambling In the Garden for her weekly meme to showcase a creation from my land or garden, because with everything fully dormant, there wasn’t much to inspire me.
Inspiration came today in a post by Murtagh’s Meadow, commemorating St. Brigid’s Day, a patron saint of Ireland, and the celebration of the first day of spring in that part of the world.
Although spring is another six weeks away for me, I thought I’d try my hand at a St. Brigid’s Cross. Never having made one, I looked for a video to see how it was made. I know of a wet place in the field across the road where rushes grow, so I headed out to cut a bunch.
It wasn’t difficult to make, and I reckon the above result is not bad for my first attempt! If hung above your door, it is said to protect you from evil, hunger and fire. Sounds like a fine charm to me!
Wander over to see what gardeners all over the world are arranging this week. Feel free to join in, sharing your own weekly creation with a link to Cathy’s blog.
Eliza Waters 
Lovely cross, well made. Lovely write up Eliza.
Thanks for visiting.
Kind regards, Agnes
Thanks for the inspiration and Happy St. Brigid’s Day!
That’s great!
Thanks, Mary!
That is so simply and so lovely, Eliza. It will likely last and protect you for a long time to come. What a fun idea! It is a hard time for finding live material at home for a vase, and that is an elegant solution! So happy you joined in today. Giant hugs, WG ❤ ❤ ❤
Thanks so much and big hugs back! ❤
❤
A much more attractive cross than the normal pattern, I love it.
Thanks so much, Brian.
I love this! Beautiful in form, color & meaning. I especially like the combination of all those luscious colors.
Thanks, my dear! It was a breeze to make and a fun thing to scratch my creative itch! ❤
The colors in this are really beautiful. I also like the protection it gives; it provides insight into the very basic dangers to home and the people in it.
Thank you, Lisa. Thanks for noticing the two-tones of color. It was interesting that the north side of the rush was brownish and the south more green. The Irish ones were all green as it is warmer there.
I bet the north wind played a part in that…
It’s beautiful, Eliza, and beautifully made. The colors are wonderful. You’ve reminded me that in a box somewhere, probably in the attic, I have a St. Brigid’s Cross. I’ve never tried making one. Perhaps I should grab some rushes from the marsh and give it a try. 🙂
Thanks, Robin. I encourage you make one, it is easy and meditative (I needed the video to show me as I’m a visual learner) and I like the idea that it is a way to mark the halfway point through winter. Anything to get me outside and creative! Let me know if you give it a try.
It is truly lovely and anything that wards off bad things is always a good thing to have around. 🙂
Thanks, Judy! I agree. 🙂
That’s a neat arrangement!
And ironically it reminds me: we were walking Petey through the neighborhood the other day and walked by a house we’ve been past numerous times. Only this time Tony came to a dead stop in his tracks as he realized the house’s porch swing is covered in swastikas. Not painted on; just out as part of the design. It’s with an old Victorian, so I’m wondering what the past significance of the symbol was, or whether the home’s occupants have some antisocial tendencies!
Actually swastikas are from Asia and represent good luck. Hitler kind of ruined that for the world.
Thanks for your visit!
I’m going to hope that’s what their swing is all about (although there’s not a whole lot of Asian influence in this area). Too bad Hitler appropriated that one!
IKR? It was used a lot at the turn of the 20th century, so it was not surprising that he used it. Let’s hope your neighbors are Buddhists!
It’s very geometric, and it’s nice to learn about St. Brigid!
Yes, I liked the idea of celebrating the halfway mark through our northern winter.
Wow … going to have to give that a try. 🙂
Go for it! It was easy and fun to make. I taped it on my door – looks good!
I really like this. I like the cross, and I like that it’s made from the garden. I’m so impressed that you went out & harvested these materials, and figured out how to make it. Wow.
Thanks, Micheal. It is so unusual that there is no snow, normally these rushes would be buried under at least 2′ of snow. So who knows if I will be able to make it an annual tradition!
I am not quite sure why the Irish in St Brigid’s time would celebrate the beginning of spring on the 1st February – but they will have had some reason I suppose which, being me, I will now have ti look up! Thank you for continuing my education Eliza – and what a delightful creation you have made. Its simplicity has hidden depths – thank you so much for sharing
Update – it is the Christian version of the pagan Imbolc, and is roughly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring eqionox
ps excuse typos in both mesages!
It’s a good halfway mark for me, as I feel it is all down hill from here on. The days are sufficiently long enough to feel I get enough light to feel healthy.
Oh I am pleased to hear that you are hoping to regain that spring in your step soon, Eliza
Oh yes, dormant, but not for long! 🙂
Thank you, Cathy!
Wonderful Eliza. I hope you’ll keep up the tradition now and make one every February 1st?
Thank you. I’ll make one only if the snow doesn’t cover the rushes. Normally, it’s knee deep out there. This year is definitely unusual with no snow.
That’s really cool Eliza but you sure this was your first time?
Aw, how sweet of you, Mike! Yes, my first try, I never was a Girl Scout where they would make such things! 😀
Beautiful.
Thank you, Sylvia.
That’s lovely Eliza. I hope the charm works! In Germany it is Candlemas on February 2nd, and many people consider it the day when light returns and winter is fading. Although spring is much later here too.
Thanks, Cathy. I often use Feb. 1 as a marker for the 10-hr. day, where my SAD no longer is an issue. Candlemas sounds like the holiday for me!
Today is Ground Hog Day, where tradition has it, that if the groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow, it scares him back in for another six weeks ’til spring comes. A silly holiday, because around here, sun or shade regardless, we usually don’t get warmer weather ’til the end of March. It is odd that we have no snow to speak of this year.
Green grow the rushes, oh! May the charm work its magic on your household.
Thanks, Laurie. I could only do this because of the lack of snow. These would normally be buried under a couple feet of snow at this time of year. Guess we’re having a UK winter!
Eliza this is an amazing cross….and your first attempt. You are gifted. And what a wonderful ‘vase’ to showcase as we get closer to spring.
Thank you, Donna!
A fine charm it is and so clever of you to replicate it. May it bring you all the protection it promises.
Thank you very much, Dor!
Love this Eliza! You are quite talented. I believe I have one of these that my husband’s mother brought back from Ireland. I have it hanging at the bottom of my staircase but perhaps I should move it above the door!
🙂 Thanks, Kathy. Wow, you have a real Irish one, that is cool. Yes, maybe a move over the door will increase its power!
Great job, looks most professional.
Thank you, Dorris!
This is incredibly beautiful! Thank you for sharing! I love the colors & texture! 😀
🙂 It was a fun project. Thanks for your visit!