School: Glenidan (roll number 12862)
- Location:
- Glenidan, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: Bean Uí Mhaoldhia
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0722, Page 088
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- Long ago on St. Brigid's Eve the old people used to go out to the bogs and bring in a bundle of rushes to make a cross. The cross was called St. Brigid's cross. The person that would bring in the rushes would not make the cross but some of the family would make it. They used to weave the rushes in and out in a certain until the cross would be made. Then the next day the cross would be put hanging on the wall and a picture or statue of St. Brigid was placed beside it. Some people to the present day make the corsses of rushes. A family the name of (Fureys) Frirays who live in Brownstown Westmeath make the crosses. At Christmas the men and children go out to the fields and bring in branches of holly and ivy to decorate the house. The holly and ivy is put around the blessed pictures and in the windows. It is left in the pictures and windows until the 6th of January which is called the 12th day and then it is taken down and thrown out. On Palm Sunday all the people get blessed palm from the priest. Long ago the old women used to cut out small pieces of white cloth and sew them together in the form of a cross. This was done for St. Patrick's day(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Mary Bridget Nugent
- Gender
- Female
- Informant
- H. Nugent
- Gender
- Unknown
- Address
- Balnavine, Co. Westmeath
