Tomorrow is the feast day of St Brigid, patroness of Ireland, babies and scholars. Here's a mini-unit of study around St Brigid, a bit in advance of her day, so that you have time to get organized: A little info, some literary resources, a craft and a wonderful recipe.
Enjoy!
As a 100% Irish lass ( though it's said that no one, given Ireland's turbulent history, is truly of 100% "Irish" descent) St Brigid has always been a beacon to me. Nothing stopped this gal. She exemplified generosity to all and became an inspiration to legions of the Irish.
Her accomplishments were many, despite being born to a life of slavery. Her father, a pagan chieftain, eventually granted her freedom, after which she immediately sought to be consecrated fully to a life of service to Christ. She spent years, then, over the map of Ireland, overseeing the building of abbeys and rose to considerable power as an abbess.
When she was born, Ireland was half pagan and half Christian. Upon her death in 525 A.D., the country had been transformed to an almost fully Christian country.
Here are a few books you might like to enjoy:
We use 57 Stories of Saintsrather frequently. Many Catholic homeschoolers have a copy on their shelves. You probably do, as well. There's a very nice bio in here on St Brigid that
your littles will likely enjoy.
This is also a lovely bookto read for S Brigid's feast day:
For Mom, perhaps a bit more detail and an escape into some historical fiction around this woman of our Church? You might enjoy reading this title, Brigid of Kildare.
Doesn't the cover alone look enticing?
How to make St Brigid's Cross:
We are creating these crosses tomorrow and so, I've no shots of our craft to share as of yet. This is, of course, the legendary cross of St Brigid.
St. Brigid and her cross are linked together by the story that she wove this form of cross at the death bed of her father. As you know, he was a pagan lord and legend has it that upon hearing what the cross truly meant, asked to be baptized.
All you need to make the crosses with your kids is:
1. a link to this amazing site
2. pipe cleaners ( I bought a few packages of 45 at The Dollar Tree last night--what a steal)
3. Perhaps some of this musicin the background.
Since we are an Irish family ( though <sob> my kids are only 1/2 Irish!! ), the lovely strains of Irish music begin on St Brigid's Day and continue through St Pat's feast day in March.
A recipe for St Brigid's feast:
This Irish Soda Bread recipe was given to me many years ago. Since then I have tweaked it much. I don't quite know how many hundreds of loaves I have made in the past two decades alone.I bake this bread and mail it to friends and family all over the US between now and St Pat's Day There are so very many special people who used to live nearby and enjoy corn beef and cabbage around the saints' feast days with us. But now, because time and distance do not allow us the privilege of time spent together, I have to rely on the US Postal Service!
It is quite an easy and yummy recipe that you and the kids will enjoy concocting and enjoying with dinner, as breakfast, or as a snack during the day:
Irish Soda Bread.
4 c flour
1 tspn baking soda
1 tspn baking powder
1/2 tspn salt
1/2 c butter softened
1 c buttermilk
1 egg
1 c raisins
(optional- 1/2 c caraway seeds)
1. Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease your baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, powder, soda, butter.
3. Stir in buttermilk and egg, raisins.
4. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead. Form dough into a round. Place on baking sheet
5. Combine 1/4 c buttermilk with butter. Brush loaf with this mixture.
Bake 45-50 min. Cont to brush bread with mixture
Pats of butter melted onto slices of this bread? It's the best.
One more thing~
You must click over to my friend Tracy's article
at Epic Pew: Here’s 31 Things You Probably
Didn’t Know About St. Brigid of Ireland
It's SO well done...I know you'll enjoy!
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~Chris
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