St Bride's Bannock

St Bride's Bannock was baked for the first day of spring and was called "bonnach Bride" -- "Bride's Bannock."

The first day of spring was called various names including: Imbolc, Imbolg, Là Fhéill Bhrìghde, Feast-Day of Bride and St Brigid's Day.

St. Bride's Bannock were given out to small girls who went around town with a Bride doll.

One bannock was also left out that night for St Brigid as she visited farms to bless them.

Literature & Lore about St Bride's Bannock

One legend says that while Bride / St Brigid was in Bethlehem (see St Brigid's Day), she worked for an innkeeper. The innkeeper had gone away on business. She had just one bannock of bread to keep her for a while. Two hungry strangers, a man and a woman, came to the door of the inn. The inn was full, with no place for them, but she gave them her bannock to eat. When she came back in, her bannock was back on the table. Later, she was drawn to a light in the stable, and the two strangers turned out to be Mary and Joseph, and Mary was in labour, giving birth to Jesus. Brigid helped with the birth, and she stayed with Mary for a while as a mother's helper to look after Jesus.

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