Brighid Anraith

Brighid Anraith (AKA Brígiða Vadesbana, Brighid of the Blue Hands)

Persona Bio

Brighid Anraith is a mid-9th cen Irish woman from the area between Kildare and the Norse settlement of Dubh Linn.

Her father's family did not approve of the match with her mother and when her mother died while she was still young, her family placed her in the abbey at Kildare. Having no vocation for the church but considerable skill with textiles, she left when she was able, and has made her way since as a weaver and dyer.

After travelling on Norse trade ships for a period of time she found welcoming kinfolk she had not realized she had in Yorvik, including a couple who promptly adopted her, to her surprise. Shortly thereafter she found herself even more astonished by becoming betrothed to a minor baron (Baron James Douglas) she met at an inn. She's still not sure how this happened, but suspects plotting on the part of her kinfolk. Being not unsatisfied with the match she has decided she will most likely go through with the marriage. Someday. It will make her mother happy.

Among her Yorvik kin, she is sometimes called Brighid of the Blue Hands, or Brígiða Vadesbana

SCA Bio

I have been in the SCA for a little bit more than 10 years during which I've lived in 1 Shire, 2 Baronies, 3 Principalities and 3 Kingdoms. I have served as co-event steward for a few events, served as Skeldergate's Chatelaine for a year, and occasionally taught someone how to do something cool I've learned.

I started in the College of Skeldergate, which shortly thereafter became the Canton of Skeldergate, in the Barony of Septentria, in the Principality of Ealdormere, which shortly thereafter became the Kingdom of Ealdormere, in the Middle Kingdom. I then moved to the Barony of Lions Gate in the Region of the North, which shortly thereafter became the Principality of Tir Righ (it's a coincidence, honest), in An Tir. I recently moved to the Shire of Vinjar, in the Principality of Avacal (An Tir).

I have been a member of or associated with several households over my career. The only one I am currently involved in is Holly House, which is located primarily in Lions Gate/Eisenmarche terrritory, but has members and associates scattered across the Knowne Worlde. I am an apprentice to Mistress Seiglynda of Thyrisdotter of Elphinstone, head of Holly House.

Areas of interest:

Textiles:

weaving; cloth, inkle, tablet, braid, tapestry, rug (pile and flat)

embroidery; early stuff, blackwork

costume; 'Celtic', Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon, Japanese, Indian, Bronze Age European

dyeing; mineral vat dyes, plant dyes, indigo/woad

fabric printing and painting

felt

Sociology and History: textile and textile industry history, kinship structures, rulership, pagan religion in period, mythology of Northern Europe, early Christian theology, court life in Heian Japan, world-view of the Middle Ages, SCA culture

Early period poetry: Irish, Welsh, Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian, Japanese

Random minor interests: masks, puppetry, drama, illumination, jewellery construction, beads, games, hairstyling, nalbinding, spinning, temari balls, get the feeling I get bored a lot? I used to work as a store clerk and home care attendant for the disabled, not exactly intellectually stimulating, and lots of time on my hands....

Pronunciation

Brighid is pronounced "Breed", or more precisely "Bre'ed" as there's a bit of a catch in the "ee" sound. I also answer to the pronunciation "BREEG-ed" (hard 'g'). Bridgit (BRIDGE-et) is right out. I'll answer to it, but only to tell you that's not my name.

Anraith is pronounced "AHN-raid".

I do NOT use the title "Lady" as Lady Breed just sounds dumb. I prefer Bantiarna, which, as far as I can tell, is actually pronounced like it's spelled, despite being Irish.

Brígiða is pronounced "Bree-GEE-tha" or "Bree-GEE-da" (hard 'g').

Vadesbana is pronounced "WAH-dess-Bah-na".

I don't know the appropriate alternate title to "lady" in Old Norse.