St. Brigid of Kildare, also known as Brigid of Ireland, was a 5th-century nun, abbess, and founder of the monastery at Kildare. She is one of Ireland's patron saints, celebrated for her compassion and dedication to helping the poor. Her life is marked by numerous miracles and acts of kindness, which have made her a beloved figure in Christianity. Brigid is often associated with the arrival of spring and fertility, symbolized by the Brigid's Cross, a traditional woven cross made from rushes. Her feast day is celebrated on February 1st, marking the beginning of Imbolc, a festival that honors the coming of spring and the renewal of life.