Saint Bridgid’s Cross for Saint Bridgid's Day, the Start of Imbolic season, or in America, Groundhog Day
It is still an exciting time, we dream of spring and all the new growth, of both plant and animal, and most of all the growing daylight of longer days!
Cabin fever remains the prominent malady. We long to bask in the warm rays of the sun, ready the fields and gardens for summer planting. Welcoming the return of hens to laying eggs, calves growing to be born, and fresh wild greens about to pop out of the earth gracing our table with nutritious delights.
To celebrate the world coming back to life and as protection from fire, hunger and evil, one of the Celtic symbols was the St Bridgid's Cross. A solar cross depicting the four seasons. Follow this link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRi89vnzF5w, for a good tutorial video, and brief summary of its history. For the, text, history of Imbolic, follow this link, https://www.claddaghdesign.com/special-days/all-about-imbolc/
Horsetail Rush, or Puzzle Grass for Saint Bridgid's Cross The only Rushes I am able to obtain, at my present knowledge of the area, Central Missouri, is what the locals call "Puzzle Grass", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetum_hyemale. Puzzle grass refers to the whole genus of Equisetum, but for my purpose here the E. hyemale, or rough horsetail is the one I am using. It has the hollow stem of the rushes and is referred to as Horsetail Rush, http://www.waterfordgardens.com/Reeds-and-Rushes-Hardy-Bog-Plants-sc-239.html, this works for the Bridgid's cross that I want to make to celebrate the coming of spring. What we currently refer to as Groundhog Day here in the United States.
