34. Rush and Straw Crosses; Ancient Emblems of Sun Worship.

Abstract

In MAN, 1920, 45, Mr. Armstrong has described a gold solar disc found at Lattoon, Co. Cavan, which he connects with sun worship in the bronze age in Ireland.I should like to draw attention to the rush and straw crosses put up in many parts of that country, which are, I believe, a survival of this ancient cult.The significance of the rush cross was first pointed out to me by the late Lady Huggins, who showed me one, saying it had come from Ireland, and was a very ancient symbol of the sun.I replied I possessed a cross of similar shape, which came from Portglenone, Co. Antrim, and had been given me by Mr. Robert Bell, a member of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club.A little later I visited Maghera, Co. Derry, and obtained a number of rush crosses and harvest knots; some of these I sent to Lady Huggins, and, in acknowledging them, she wrote: Regarding the dried rush cross I "showed you, and which came from Ireland, it is exactly the same in form as those you have sent me.You thought my cross like what you "had seen.I thought they would turn out identical, and they have.

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