Brigid's Cross and Crafts for Imbolc Including Kids Crafts

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING BRIGID'S CROSS

I have seen some very elaborate and beautifully woven Brigid's Crosses. I think each year it's a new time for making a new Brigid's Cross don't you agree?
 I wanted a project easy enough for young children.
These directions require only pipe cleaners and string. You can get pipe cleaners in any craft store and they come in a wonderful assortment of colors so you can let your little artists be as creative as they want!

Step 1 - Make a bundle with 6 pipe cleaners and bend them in half. Tie the ends all together with a piece of string.
Step 2 - Lay the pipe cleaner bundle on the table in a vertical position, with the tied end on the top.
Step 3- Make a second bundle, again using 6 pipe cleaners, and bend them in half.
Step 4- Before you tie the ends this time though, slip it through the middle of the other bundle so that they're linked.
Step 5 - Now tie the ends and lay this second bundle down in a horizontal position with the tied ends pointing to the right. If you did it right your shape should look like the letter "L".
Step 6 - Now you're going to repeat the procedure. Make a bundle with 6 pipe cleaners, bend them in half and, before you tie them, slip them through the middle of the horizontal bundle, just to the right of the first bundle. This batch should be in a vertical position, with the tied ends on the bottom.
Step 7 - The last step is to make one last bundle, slipping it through the middle of the batch you just laid down, only this one goes horizontally to the left. Now tie the ends. You should now have an upside down "L" linked through your right-side up one.
Now you've made Brigid's Cross! Explain to the kids as they work that Brigid was the Maiden Goddess in Ireland. Her name meant "The High or Exalted One." She was the Goddess of Fire and was therefore called on by families to be their Hearth Guardian and the protectress of their homes.

Another! fun activity to celebrate Brigid's Day is to have the children draw a picture of what they think Brigid might look like. Flaming red hair, a fiery dress, whatever. Hang her pictures on the refrigerator as part of your Brigid's Day celebration!

Excerpts from A Wiccan Primer: Rituals for Children Copyright 1996 by Wind*Dancer
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GENEALOGY OF BRIGIT

The genealogy of the holy maiden Brigit,

Radiant arrow of flame, noble foster-mother of gods,

Brigit the daughter of the Dagda,

Dagda the Good God, the son of Ethlinn,

Ethlinn the daughter of Balor,

Balor the king of the Fomoire.

Every day and every night

That I say the genealogy of Brigit,

I shall not be killed, I shall not be injured,

I shall not be enchanted, I shall not be cursed,

Neither shall my power leave me.

No earth, no sod, no turf shall cover me,

No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me,

No water, no lake, no sea shall drown me,

No air, no wind, no vapour shall sicken me,

No glamour out of Faery shall o'ertake me,

And I under the protection of the holy maiden,

My gentle foster-mother, my beloved Brigit.

Document Copyright © 1993, 1997 by Mike Nichols

The Cross of Brigit
Copyright Eliza Fegley, 2003

http://www.sacredspiral.com/Database/brigit/index.html

Brigit's Cross was, and still is, made of rush or wheat straw. It is the equal armed cross woven together and represents the five Celtic directions: north, south, east, west, and here or center.

It was tradition to make these crosses on the eve of Brigit's feast, February 1st. These crosses were then used in numerous rituals.

Ulster midwives would mark the four corners of the home of a woman in labour with Brigit's Cross. Then, while standing on the threshold, the midwife would sing: [2]

"Four corners to her bed.
Four angels at her head.
Mark, Mathew, Luke and John;
God bless the bed that she lies on.
New moon, new moon, God bless me.

God bless this house and family."

Today many people hang Brigit's Cross in their kitchens for good luck.
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Imbolc Celebration Small Children Activities

Imbolc is the Sabbat that honors the re-union of the Goddess and the
God as new, vital, and purified lovers. At Imbolc, the Goddess
appears in the Maiden aspect and her consort the God appears as the
virile Lord of the Forest. This is their wedding night, and the God
lovingly approaches her as she lays waiting upon her Bride's Bed. It
is the mid-point of the dark half of the year and their union casts a
brilliant light upon the frozen land.

Brideo'gas

Materials:
1-peice Wooden Clothespin, Red, Yellow, or Brown Yarn, 1 White Pipe
Cleaner, Several Scraps of White Material, Black and Red Markers,
Scissors, Glue, Gold Glitter.

Children will enjoy making these little Bride images that can be used
later as an alter decoration. Take a scrap of white material, (silk,
satin, cotton, etc.), and cut out a 6" circle. In the center of the
circle cut a hole large enough to poke the "head" of the clothespin
through. Fold the circle in half and cut along the fold from both
perimeters to the center hole, leaving approx. 1/8 inch between each
slit and center hole. Dab "neck" of clothespin with a very small
amount of glue, and push clothespin "head" up through the center hole
in the material. Cut appropriate length of pipe cleaner to make arms
and slide up through the slit in the clothespin until it is pushed up
to the end of the slits on both sides of the material. Gather the
material tight around the clothespin just under the arms, and tie off
with a small piece of string or yarn. Glue a couple of short pieces
of yarn to the clothespin head and make eyes and mouth with markers.
Finish with dabs of glue and gold glitter around the white wedding
dress. A bridal veil glued to the yarn hair is optional. Explain to
the children how the Goddess is a sacred bride, pure and renewed,
waiting to be re-united with her consort the God.

Bride's Bed

Materials:
A Box, Colored Construction Paper, White, Yellow, Green, and Red
Tissue Paper, White Flowers or Cotton Balls, Glue, Paint Brush,
Crayons, Scissors, Glitter.

This is a great little activity for the smaller children in the
household, and they two can boast of helping with your alter decor.
Paint one side of the box at a time with a bit of glue, not too
thick, just enough to adhere green tissue paper. Cover the entire
outside of the box with the green tissue paper. Cut a 2" wide strip
of colored construction paper the length of the sheet (11"/14"). Let
the child draw symbols and pictures that reminds them of Spring, the
Goddess, brides, and weddings on the strip. Cut the white and yellow
tissue paper into 2" diameter circles. While you are doing this,
allow the child to draw pictures and symbols on the box with glue,
and sprinkle with glitter. Place finger in the middle of a tissue
square and draw up tissue around finger. Give a slight twist to
crinkle paper into a flower shape. Remove finger and adhere to box
and decorated construction paper strip with a dab of glue. Remember
to leave about 1-1/2 inches on each end of strip. Attach these ends
to the inside of the box with some glue. Let dry. Fill with white
flowers or cotton balls. Tell story to children of how the Maiden is
a Bride and that the Earth is her Bride's Bed.

Priapic Wand

Materials:
Small Tree Branch, Acorn, Thin Brown String or Thread, Yellow, Green,
and Gold 1/4" Ribbon, Small Gold/Silver Jingle Bells. Children will
love the sound of this magical wand as they walk about pointing and
shaking it at plants and trees, invoking them to wake up from
Winter's sleep to witness the union of the Bride and the Lord of the
Forest. Select a small branch about 1/2" to 3/4" in diameter. Cut top
end flat. Approx. 1/2" below top score a groove (parents only) with a
sharp knife. Take 1' long piece of string/thread and tie in groove.
Take another 1' piece of thread and tie in groove on opposite side of
branch. Place acorn at top of branch (flat end) and adhere with some
glue. Now pull the string up over the cap and wind once around acorn.
Repeat with all 3 other pieces of string. Pull strings back down to
the groove in the branch and tie off. This will hold the acorn in
place. Decorate the branch by wrapping it with the ribbons, leaving
enough length at top for streamers. Tie gold/silver jingle bells to
the ends of the ribbons. For smaller children, thread the bells onto
the ribbon while wrapping the branch. Tell the children about how the
acorn-wand is a symbol of the Lord of the Forest, and how this
magical wand helps the sleeping plants and animals wake up and
prepare for Spring.

Brighid's Crosses

Materials:
Dried Wheat Stalks, Brown Thread. These crosses were exchanged as
symbols of protection. They are easy to make and not at all time
consuming. Take eight stalks with sheaves still attached. Place four
stalks on flat surface with two sheaves at the top and two sheaves at
the bottom. Measure approx. 6" of stalk between the sets of sheaves
and cut off excess. Tie all four stalks together with the brown
thread, first under the top sheaves, then above the bottom sheaves.
Cut off excess thread. Repeat this procedure with the other four
stalks, shortening the length between the sheaves to 4". Carefully
separate the first set of stalks (two in front and two in back) and
slip the second set through approx. 1" from the bottom of the top
sheaves. Tie some thread in a knot just under the arms of the cross.
Take the excess ends and diagonally wrap the thread over the opposite
corresponding arm and back to the knot. Tie off in back and cut off
excess ends. Let the children hand these Brighid's Crosses out to
guests.

Bride's Bouquet Sachets

Materials:
Imbolic Potpourri, 1 Yard White Netting Material, Yellow and Pink
1/8" width Ribbon, Scissors. These sachets can be put in the
children's clothing drawers or in rooms of the house that you'd like
to smell of Imbolc even after the Sabbat is over. Potpourri is made
with 1/2 cup dried basil, 1/2 cup dried chopped bay leaves, 1 cup
dried Heather flowers, 1 cup dried Violets, 1 cup dried white or pink
rose buds. Blend together in non-metal bowl. Cut netting material
into 4"x4" squares. Lay out squares on a flat surface. Place 1
heaping tablespoon of potpourri in the middle of each square. Pull up
all the corners to the middle of the potpourri and gather the excess
material until potpourri is caught in a "bag". Give bag on twist to
the right and tie off with yellow or pink ribbon. Use enough ribbon
to make a small bow in the front of the sachet. Tell children how
these sachets were exchanged as symbols of good luck and fertility.

Pentacle Candle Wheel (for the older kids)

Materials:
Molding Clay, Pencil, Ruler, 13- 4" White Stick Candles (1/4"
diameter), Paints (optional). This Pentacle Candle Wheel is the
perfect accessory to any Imbolc altar. Use enough clay to roll out
flat with a rolling pin and cut out a circle 18" in diameter and 1/2"
thick. Roll excess clay into rope, 1/4" in diameter and long enough
to boarder the wheel base. Wet the clay rope enough to stick to base.
This will contain any wax that drips from the burning candles. Score
the image of the pentacle into the wheel base with the pencil, using
the ruler to make straight lines. The Pentacle's points should be
approx. 1/2" away from the border. Take one of the white candles and
press bottom slightly (approx. 1/4" ) into each Pentacle point, each
cross point (inner angles of the Pentacle) and three depressions in a
pyramid shape in the top Pentacle triangle ray. Now allow the clay to
dry and harden. The Pentacle Candle Wheel can be painted if desired
after dried. Place candles in each of the depressions and place in
the center of the Imbolc altar. Remember that the Candle Wheel is the
symbol of the light that ensues from the union of the Bride and her
consort, the Lord of the Forest.

Maiden's Chant

Awake sleeping Maiden,
Thy consort is close,
He comes through the woods for thee.
I light your candles
and pierce the darkness
Your re-union for all
to see.

Imbolc Prayer

We've made it to the mid-point
of the Winter dark and bleak.
From this day on the Sun
will climb and thaw the
ground and creeks.
Bless us now, oh Maiden fair,
and keep us in your loving care.
Showing signs of new life everywhere
as you awaken from your sleep.