Brigid's Crosses are woven to celebrate the sabbat Imbolc. These crosses are made of rushes and hung by the door to protect the home from fire and evil. In Ireland, this day is now known as St. Brigid's Day. However, the crosses are part of a much older pagan tradition, and the Goddess Brigid dates back to the Tuatha Dé Danann and pre-Christianity.
Brigid's crosses are typically made of rushes, but these are difficult for urban witches to find. Rather than rushes, you can use paper or straw (but straw may need to be soaked first in water so it doesn't break). You might also find a plant with tall stalks such as a cattail. I prefer to use lavender. It is an Imbolc flower, is easy to find, and smells lovely.
ITEMS NEEDED
Rushes, Paper, or Plant Stalks for Weaving (I use lavender stalks with leaves removed)
Scissors
String
HOW TO WEAVE THE BRIGID'S CROSS
1. Hold one stalk between the thumb and forefinger of your left hand.
2. Take a second stalk and fold it in half over the middle of the first straw.
3. Hold the pieces tightly with the thumb and forefinger of your left hand and rotate them 90 degrees to the left.
4. With your right hand, take another stalk and fold it in half over all the pieces sticking up.
5. Once again repeat steps 3 and 4. In other words, hold the center tightly between the thumb and forefinger of your left hand. Turn the pieces 90 degrees to the left. With your right hand, fold a stalk over the pieces sticking up. It should now look like the picture below.
6. Continue adding more pieces in this manner until you have a sturdy center.
Tie the ends with string. Trim the string, but leave one end tied to a loop for hanging.
