St Brigid’s Day: 7 reasons it was a major primary school STRESS-FEST
If you attended primary school in Ireland during your formative years, chances are you have particularly vivid memories of the tasks which coincided with February 1.
And if you happened to be a pupil at one of the many St Brigid's or Scoil Bhride's dotted across the country, it's highly likely you experience regular flashbacks featuring tangled straws and knotted fingers.
St Brigid's Day is not something you ignore if you attend school in Ireland, and it's not something you forget if you've ever spent an afternoon desperately crafting a St Brigid's Day Cross in honour of the gal herself.
And here, ladies, are just 7 reasons why St Brigid's Day is engrained in the mind of anyone who received an education in this country.
1. It was vital you knew the history of the cross before you were allowed get busy with your own.
"It was something to do with her dad? And he was mad sick? And she thought making the crosses would help?"
2. You got seriously envious of kids who used soft reeds to make their crosses because you were forced to use plastic straws.
"Miss? Mine have snapped… AGAIN."
3. Girls who owned a Brigid's Cross pendant wore theirs with a smug face, and never forgot to remind the teacher of their devotion on February 1.
"If she fiddles with that yoke one more time, I'll snap it off her."
4. A quick trip to the local church was the order of the day on February 1, and you lived in fear the priest would quiz you on ol' Bridge.
"Where was she from again? Dundalk? No, Drogheda?!"
5. If your secondary school was named after St Brigid, chances are your Home Ec class devoted February 1 to baking a special oat bread.
"I only brought an onion and a slab of cooking chocolate. Will that do?"
6. If your neighbouring school was St Brigid's, you watched their day-long celebration with envy, not realising everyone was dying inside.
"Would you look?! They're being RATED on their crosses in front of everyone, I'd say that's great craic."
Mind sitting all day in school making St Brigids crosses? Those were the days #StBrigidsDay
— Ben Robinson (@benrobins0n) February 1, 2017
7. Debate over whether February 1 marked the first day of spring raged back and forth all day.
"Let's use the window for help. Yep. it's pissing down. Still winter."
