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The Legend of St. Brigid’s Cape

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100% Brushed Lambswool Ladies Cape CONNACHT
100% Brushed Lambswool Ladies Cape CONNACHT

St. Brigid’s Day is February 1st, which is also Imbolc. That’s the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox. Traditionally, Imbolc is considered the first day of spring in Ireland, but the Irish weather very much disputes that! The first flowers of spring – the snowdrops and crocus – might be in bloom, but the island is still being battered with rain, wind and occasionally snow. It’s the perfect time to celebrate Brigid by donning her most famous article of clothing – a warm cape. Aran sweaters and capes are popular and practical Irish gifts, but do you know why the cape is associated with Ireland’s female patron saint?

Irish Cape | 100% Brushed Lambswool Ladies Cape MUMHAN
Irish Cape | 100% Brushed Lambswool Ladies Cape MUMHAN

The distinctive St. Bridget’s Cross woven from straw or reeds is the most well-known symbol associated with the saint, but the legend of how she used her cape to build her convent shows us more of her personality.

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St. Bridget's Cross Necklaces

Brigid wanted to build a convent for her nuns, but getting land to build on wasn’t easy. But Brigid wasn’t a meek woman. She was determined, confident and shrewd. She grew up the daughter of a chieftain and a servant woman, and she was known to get in trouble with her wealthy father for giving away his wealth to those in need.

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When she needed a plot of land for her convent, Brigid approached a chieftain in Kildare. He initially refused. Undeterred, Brigid asked him to give a parcel of land, only as much as her cape could cover. The chieftain laughed, thinking her a silly woman, and agreed. Brigid turned and unfurled her cape, which then grew and grew, expanding to cover plenty of land upon which to build. And once that convent was built, it continued to expand for centuries!

Ireland’s Other Patron Saint

Patrick gets top billing and appears on many Irish gifts, but Brigid is also widely loved and revered in Ireland as one of our three patron saints. (St Columba, aka St Colmcille is the third. We’ll leave aside the question of why such a small island requires three patron saints to keep us from harm!)

Copper St. Bridget's Cross Wall Plaque
Copper St. Bridget's Cross Wall Plaque

Helping the poor and vulnerable was Brigid’s passion. Many of her miracles involve providing food for the hungry or safety for woman in danger. One of the stories about her tells of a man who, upon hearing that young Brigid had entered the convent and wasn’t available for marriage, said her eyes were so beautiful that some man would marry her regardless of her wishes. She promptly stuck her finger into her eye, injuring it, then miraculously healed her eye and cursed the man. Shortly thereafter, both of his eyes exploded.

Artwork depicting Saint Brigid
Image of Saint Brigid

While her feast day was only made a public holiday a couple of years ago, the Irish have been celebrating it for generations. Anyone who grew up in Ireland has certainly made a St. Brigid’s cross of straw or rushes at school. Ireland has 45 different villages named Kilbride scattered around the island, Other place names include Rathbride, Knockbride and Templebreedy.

Brigid is the also the patron saint of single mothers, abused woman, poets, scholars, sailors, blacksmiths and midwives.

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