Watch: how to make a St. Brigid's cross
A traditional St Brigid's Cross made from rushes floats in St Brigids' holy well in Co Kildare. People visit to the well to mark St Brigid's Day which is seen by many in Ireland as the first day of Spring. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Today is the day of Brigid, at once one of Ireland's patron saints - an icon of charity, sacrifice and resilience - and a goddess in Celtic mythology, representative of the beginning of the feast of Imbolg, heralding the spring.
In recent years, calls have grown for February 1 to become a national holiday on par with St. Patrick's Day, as a rallying point for the women of Ireland and their role in ongoing social and cultural change.
