The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum

 
I am! I was just thinking about this yesterday, but I've had limited brain the past few days so I didn't post.

Is anyone interested in doing a Brighid's cross and/or brat exchange for this coming Imbolc?

 
I am interested.  Not sure I can commit to something at this exact moment, but I am definitely interested.

This might be a stupid question, since I know what a brat IS but how do you make one?

 
Not a stupid question at all!  Especially since we've never really defined it explicitly (that I can recall).

A brat symbolizes Brighid's mantle and is basically any piece of clothing or fabric that is left outside over night on Imbolc Eve (the night of January 31-February1) for Brighid to bless as She visits each family.  To be completely clear, this tradition is attested with regard to *Saint* Brigid, not the Goddess Brighid.  Which should make sense to anyone who has done any reading on ancient Celtic religion and/or Brighid -- since there is so little extant evidence about the Goddess Brighid or how the Celts worshiped Her or other deities.  

However, many of us -- myself included -- have chosen to use information about Saint Brigid to inform our practices honoring the Goddess Brighid.  The way I feel about it is that the saint was likely a means to an end; a way for the Irish laypeople (as opposed to priests or monks or nuns) to retain an important and beloved goddess as they moved toward Christianity.  That idea can be easily challenged, of course, and there are probably just as many people who think the goddess died with paganism in Ireland and the saint is a completely independent entity.  

I've read about different ways to carry out the tradition of leaving a brat out for blessing.  There are numerous regional variations on the theme.  For example, people who lived on the coast would often leave out the coats worn by the men involved in seafaring.  In other places, the brat was simply a handkerchief or just a piece of cloth, pieces of which would be cut or torn off and used throughout the year to foster healing (especially for headaches), ease the pain of childbirth, protect the cattle, etc.  In some areas, the brat had to be a specific color or had to be put in a particular place (a bush or just outside the door, f'ex) or had to be brought inside before sunrise, etc.  (Sean ODuinn's book, The Rites of Brigid:  Goddess and Saint, is the best source I've found for Irish Imbolc traditions.)  

The way we -- members of the TC Cill -- have done the Imbolc exchange in the past (I don't remember if we've done it twice before or three times) is to give the sender the option of making a Brighid's cross OR a brat OR both.  But it's important to note that the exchange is NOT about spending money.  It's about creating and sharing a powerful symbol that is special to us, as Cill-mates.  

When I have received a brat, it has usually been knitted or crocheted.  I have two that are squares -- like the squares my grandmother crocheted and then put together to make a blanket.  I also have one that is a knot, which uses two colors of yarn.  I don't knit or crochet (although I'd LOVE to learn -- it's on my 2012 To Do List ), but other Cill-mates do and can do a better job of describing this kind of brat.  

Since I don't knit or crochet, I've had to rely on other materials.  And I've also adopted a pretty loose definition of "brat."  For the purpose of the exchange, I've sent strips from the very first brat I put out, many years ago.  For my family's personal use, I've put all sorts of things outside to be blessed: scarves, bandanas, hats, pieces of fabric, ribbons, even jewelry.  Other people might take a more traditional view of the practice, though, and feel that I'm going too far astray.

So, I guess the basic answer to your question is:  You can make a brat any way you want to.  

Does that help?

~ Aster

Is anyone interested in doing a Brighid's cross and/or brat exchange for this coming Imbolc?

 
Good heavens, it is that time again, isn't it?

I would be very disappointed if our cross/brat exchange didn't occur.  But I think I had better say that I'm not taking part this year - my track record for getting things made and mailed in previous exchanges is dismal, and this year I have a lot more on my mind and on my plate.

Or rather, that my participation will be limited to finally actually sending the crosses from the last two exchanges (see?  dismal:ashamed:).

Sunflower

I personally have no problem with the idea of people who are not technically Cill members, but who have become connected with it on the sidelines so to speak (as you've done, Fagan, with your Month of Poetry and choosing to share it with us), taking part in the exchange if they want to do so.  But it's probably something that should be discussed by those who are members.

 
This is a good point, and if you guys did not want me to participate on that basis, I would understand.

So...  Anybody interested in an exchange?

~ Aster

 


I want to, but I doubt I'll be able to actually get something out in time for it to arrive...I would have to mail it next week, and I won't be home. Nor do I have the time to make anything between now and then.

Next exchange I'll be able.

It also sounds like there might be a few people who would like to participate but don't think they could send it by whatever the deadline will be (see below).  Personally, I have no problem with receiving my package after February 1.  In fact, I think it would be kinda cool to have the person who made the cross and/or brat put it out for Brighid's blessing on Imbolc Eve.  That said, I'm also OK with a group consensus that we should stick with the deadline, even if that rules a few (very busy) people out.

I'm perfectly good with pushing the deadline. :whis:

And I've sent you a PM!