A spokesperson for Athiest Ireland has said it is not ‘appropriate’ for schools to encourage children to make St Brigid’s Crosses.
As we celebrate the first February Bank Holiday Monday, and St Brigid’s Day, the organisation for those who do not practice religion said in a multicultural society, these emblems of Christianity should not be taught.
Most people who went to school in Ireland will remember making these crosses with rushes to celebrate the arrival of Spring.
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While many would not consider this an inappropriate practice, Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland let his thoughts be known.
Speaking to Newstalk’s Hard Shoulder, he said: “My issue is that State-funded schools should not be promoting this.
“Because it has a specific symbolism - the St Brigid's Cross - which is not just religion but religious evangelism.
“The story behind it is that this woman supposedly wove this cross out of rushes in order to convert a pagan chieftain to Christianity on his deathbed.
“That’s exactly the wrong message for State-funded schools to send to a multicultural society that it is appropriate to convert people out of their faith on their deathbed.
“Schools shouldn’t be doing it and individuals and churches should be able to do whatever they want.”
Meanwhile, Writer Barbara Scully opposed this and said: “To think they are a conversion tool in this day and age is somewhat overstating an old legend,” she said.
“A lot of St Brigid’s life… is shrouded in stories and myths and legends - it’s very hard to know what’s true and what’s not true.
“But what’s true is that people in this country have been making St Brigid's Crosses out of rushes for thousands of years and they are a symbol of healing and hope for thousands of years and I don’t think they are in any way a symbol of conversion and evangelisation”.
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