ArtFire

Brizel Handcrafts presents a unique adaptation of a St Brigid's Cross, a prayers cross, attributed to the Celtic saint and goddess Brigid / Brigit.

Made of apple wood which i grow and prune myself, this beautiful ornament is perfect for your altar or hearth, for above your doorway or to gift as a housewarming / house blessing present !

Every year come January, I prune my apple trees. This is a special grouping of trees, eighteen in total and each one bearing a different variety of apple. The orchard is planted in a huge spiral, with lavender bushes between each, and with a large path that winds between them and into a ceremonial space.

When the small budding branches are pruned, they are cut to size and allowed to dry for one year. The following year, during the Imbolc season which hosts the Feast of Brigid, the apple wood is carefully sewn together into a Brigid Cross with colored hemp string... purple for the center and an elemental color for each of the arms.

These larger Brizel apple wood Brigid Crosses measure at their widest points approx 6-7" x 6-7" (18 cm)

ALL iMAGES designs CONTENT ©2005-2012 Nicole Planchon / Brizel ALL rights reserved

Brigid crosses are solar symbols, equal armed and stretching in four directions, which symbolically encourages the strength of the Sun through our front doors and into our homes. It is a talisman believed to bring protection, blessing, fertility and prosperity into our households.

Also known as St Brigit's Crosses, they are traditionally made from woven straw or rushes gathered on January 31st, the eve of St Brigid's Day. Crosses from the previous year are burned & replaced with new ones affirming the old saying: "Out with the old, and in with the new".

apple wood, hemp string

Each cross is unique... the one pictured here is an example of what it will look like.

Your Brizel apple wood Brigid Cross is gift wrapped and ships out via Priority insured mail with delivery confirmation to all US addresses.