Well, just because of the day that's in it, I thought I'd post on something that is a little less stressful than currency trading.
Today is February 1st, and in Ireland it is the feast of Saint Brigid for the Roman Catholic church. Traditionally, the night before on January 31st, crosses were made from rushes and brought to church the following day to be blessed.
Rushes grow in wet ground.
They were then taken home and usually placed over the mantle piece of the open fire, behind a picture. And it was likely to be a picture of the Sacred Heart or the Blessed Virgin Mary, or during a time it may even have been John F Kennedy 馃槃. Another cross would be placed in the byre or shed where the cows would be milked or housed for the winter. The St. Brigid's Cross was supposed to bring safety to the occupants of the house and the animals in the byre.
The freshly made and blessed cross replaced the old dried up cross from the previous year. Rather than just throw away the old cross it was supposed to be burned in the open fire of the house.
Old dried up cross from last year
Old traditions are fading rapidly in the modern world. Many kids in Ireland now, don't even know what a St. Brigids' Cross is, never mind know how to go about making one. Well, I continue to do my bit every year to maintain this old custom. My daughter and I sat up last night in the time honored tradition, and made St. Brigid's Crosses. She has proudly taken it to school today to show the others. It will be the only one there, and she will certainly be the only child there to have made one!
It is more the art and craft of the tradition that I don't want to see lost, than for any particular religious reason. I'm sure many old traditions are dying out all over the world. I have a thing about tradition, especially a tradition with an art or craft attached to it. I do not want to see these skills lost. We should preserve them for future generations.
I would be eager to read of any fading traditions in your homeland. Particularly a custom that produces an art or craft that is rapidly fading. Lets not loose our past!
