Santa Brígida – St Brigid’s Day
The Feast of Saint Brigid is one of the most celebrated events by the Irish around the world, and the town of Santa Brígida is no exception.
On Friday, January 31, at 18:00, the Church of Santa Brigida will be the scene of the Act of Fraternization with the Irish community, during which the official chronicler of Santa Brigida, Pedro Socorro Santana, and the philologist and director of the Zunsun Academy, Judit Penichet, will guide attendees through the life and legacy of Saint Brigid, Co-patron of Ireland, a key figure in the Christian tradition and in the history of the Santa Brígida municipality.
The event will be attended by the Honorary Consul General of Ireland, Víctor Auz Castro, and is aimed at all those interested in learning more about the historical and cultural roots of Santa Brígida. It is organised by the Department of Culture, the Irish community of Gran Canaria, and the parish church of Santa Brígida.
Celtic music concert
The following day, Saturday 1st February, the municipality of Santa Brígida is preparing to honour its Patron Saint with a celebration that combines culture, tradition, and gastronomy, and invites residents and visitors to enjoy a very pleasant experience that includes a solemn ceremony at 11:30 in the Parish Church of Santa Brígida, and a Celtic music concert at 12:30 in the Church Square by Alegranza Folk, among other groups.
Goddess Brigit
The feast of Saint Brigid is celebrated on February 1, a date linked in ancient times to a Celtic goddess of pre-Christian Ireland, the goddess Brigit, patron of midwives, newborns, Irish nuns, fugitives, blacksmiths, dairymaids, boatmen, chicken farmers, and more. Her feast symbolised rebirth as it marked the moment when the sun began to regain its strength to warm the earth, the days became longer and the seeds germinated. With the arrival of Christian monks, the figure of the goddess merged with that of Saint Brigid, canonized in the 7th century, and Ireland adopted her as its patron saint.
The Cross of Saint Brigid
It was common practice to give crosses made of reeds or straw to newlyweds or those who had just bought a new home, as a gesture of protection and good wishes for the family they were starting. Even today, in many Irish homes, the beautiful tradition of making and hanging St. Brigid’s crosses on the eve of her feast day is still preserved, in the hope of blessing their homes.
