Irish festival for women comes to Wellington
Wellingtonians will be able to celebrate their Irish heritage when an ancient festival is marked for the first time in the capital.
St Brigid’s Day – traditionally a pagan festival marking the beginning of spring, is on February 1 – and will this year be a celebration of trailblazing women.
Celebrations at Te Papa tomorrow evening will include traditional Irish dancing, singing, and speeches from remarkable women from 6.30pm.
St Brigid of Kildare is a patron saint of Ireland. She lived in the fourth century, and was known for empowering women.
Many rituals are associated with the making of St Brigid’s crosses, which were traditionally placed over doorways and windows to protect the home from harm.
Tomorrow’s celebration is being led by Peter Ryan, the first Irish ambassador resident in New Zealand.
‘‘Irish roots here in New Zealand are very deep,’’ Ryan said.
The Duke of Wellington was born in Dublin, two of New Zealand’s best known early prime ministers, John Ballance and William Massey, were both born in Ireland, and it is estimated that one in six Kiwis is of Irish heritage.
Ryan hoped the evening would connect Kiwis to their Irish heritage and be a celebration of remarkable women. It would be female-led, and feature Kiwi-Irish groups.
‘‘Throughout time Irish women, and some men, have taken a shine to St Brigid.’’
St Brigid’s Day was not as widely celebrated in Ireland as St Patrick’s Day – marked on March 17 – but recently saw a resurgence in popularity as a way to celebrate women.
Ryan planned to promote Irish culture anew in Wellington, and offer alternatives to its usual association with drinking alcohol.