Brigid's Cross

Directions For Making Brigid's Cross

I have seen some very elaborate and beautifully woven Brigid's Crosses. Unfortunately I'm all thumbs and couldn't begin to construct one myself. That's OK though, because 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!