Brigid's Cross

A Brighid's Cross can be made with wheat stalks, grasses, reeds or rushes. Gather a few dozen reeds of the same length. If they tend to break when you bend them, soak them in water to soften them, so that they will bend easily.


Hold one reed vertically, and fold another in half around the middle of the first.



Fold next reed over the reeds one and three. (It will be parallel to the 2nd reed)


Fold next reed over the reeds one and three. (It will be parallel to the 2nd reed)


Continue to work in a circular fashion, until you have used up your reeds, or created enough of a "woven" center to the cross. Hold the reeds together


Can be decorated with early spring flowers, with thyme, basil, bay and any other medicinal cooking herbs that look pretty bright ribbon

Potpourri for Candlemas

45 drops myrrh oil
1 cup of oak
2 cups dried heather flowers
2 cups dried wisteria
1 cup dried yellow tulip petals
cup dried basil
cup dried and chopped bay leaves

mix all ingredients in large jar or other lidded container
shake often until it has cured to your taste

Paper Brigid's Crown

This is especially appropriate for young girls, since this is the holiday for the return of the maiden

You will need:


Construction paper in your child's favorite colors, and yellow and/or red, for the flames.

Pencil, crayon, or marke

Scissors

Glue (white glue or glue stick

What to do:
Cut a strip of paper about 2 inches wide and long enough to wrap around your child's head. You may need to glue 2 shorter strips to get the right length. Remember to include a couple of extra inches for overlap!

Draw and cut out eight thin rectangles (these are the candles) of paper.

Draw and cut out eight flames.

Glue the flames to the candles

Draw wicks in the flames and candles.

Distribute the candles evenly around the headband.

Glue the candles to the outside of the headband. (You can glue it to the inside if you think your youngster will wait long enough for the glue to dry!)

Depending on the age of your toddler, they can do the drawing, cutting and gluing. Even the youngest child can hold paper and have you guide her hands.