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by Janet Fischer
While the origins of Brighid remain shrouded in myth and lore, Brighid's persona remains constant as the exalted one, bringer of light, fire and wisdom, and guardian of the home. Brighid is the Celtic goddess of poetry (wisdom), the hearth and smith craft (fire), and healing. She was so beloved that with the coming of the Christian era her persona continued in St. Brighid, second only to St. Patrick as the patron saint of Ireland.
An excellent introduction to Brighid may be found in Kindling the Celtic Spirit by Mara Freeman (HarperSanFrancisco, 2001). Chapter Two covers "The Festival of Brigit."
Imbolc & Candlemas
February 1 is Imbolc, considered the beginning of spring and Brighid’s sacred day. “Imbolc” means “in the belly (of the Mother)”. The day was also called Oimelc - an obsolete pagan term - which means “milk of ewes.” It is the time of lambing and a hearth festival for the household. New crosses of rushes are made (see Brighid's Cross, below); the crosses from the previous year are burned or used as bedding for the animals (considered good luck).
Candlemas is February 2nd, and is the day when all the candles to be used in the Christian churches during the year are blessed (Candle Mass. This stems from February 2 being the Christian festival of the Feast of the Presentation - when the infant Jesus was presented at the temple 40 days (more or less) after his birth (celebrated on December 25) as required by Jewish law. Here Jesus was proclaimed "the light that has come into the world," and so the church came to bless all the candles on this day. This also corresponds with Imbolc as Brighid's (goddess of fire) sacred day. We also know February 2nd as Ground Hog Day, and this also dates back to Candlemas. If the ground hog emerges from hibernation and sees his shadow – i.e., it is bright and sunny – there are 6 more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow – if it is cloudy and overcast – winter is over. Compare that to this ancient rhyme:
If Candlemas be fair and bright, winter will have another flight.
If Candlemas be shower and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.
The first of February seems like winter, but it marks the beginning of spring. Houses were cleaned in preparation for the visitation of Brigid, thus foretelling our own tradition of spring cleaning. It was a day sacred to home and hearth. On the eve of this holiday, Brighid is invited into the house. Candles are blessed. Auguries are often taken at this time. It was the custom – and still is in some places – to place lighted candles in the windows to burn all night.
The holiday is sacred also to the field as well as hearth. Farmers began to break ground in preparation for planting. One custom was to fold a loaf of bread into the first furrow with this prayer:
Acre full fed
Bring forth fodder for men!
Blossoming brightly,
Blessed become;
And the God who wrought the ground,
Grant us the gifts of growing,
That the corn, all the corn,
May come unto our need.
Celebrating Candlemas from the School of the Seasons
Candlemas Traditions from British Life and Culture
Feast of Candlemas from The Painted Prayer Book
History of Imbolc from About.com
The Goddess Brighid Today
Brigit: The Survival of a Goddess Essay from OBOD
Brigid - The Goddess of Imbolc and Celtic Europe
Brigid, Goddess of Hearth and Flame
Make a Brighid's Cross
Saint Brighid
The Brigidine Sisters The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid
Solas Bhride Solas Bhríde is a Christian Community Centre for Celtic Spirituality in the spirit of Brigid of Kildare
Brigid's Place "Brigid's Place is dedicated to the process of spiritual transformation and the recognition of the divine presence within all creation."
Catholic Forum - Saint Brigid of Kildare
Saint Brigid - Mary of the Gaels
Feast of St. Brigid from The Painted Prayer Book
Saint Brigid of Kildare Monastery
She was known for her abundant generosity to all, and not afraid of a good time either. This prayer is attributed to her:
I would like to have the men of Heaven in my own house;
with vats of good cheer laid out for them.
I would like to have the three Mary's,
their fame is so great.
I would like people from every corner of Heaven.
I would like them to be cheerful in their drinking.
I would like to have Jesus sitting here among them.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven's family
Drinking it through all eternity.
Brighid's Cross
The usual pattern of Brighid's cross is with four, even arms. The more ancient pattern may have been to show the symbol with three arms, as in the triskele. (See the logo for Ord Brighideach.) According to About.com, "The Brighid's Cross is sometimes interpreted not as a cross but as a fire wheel, or as a symbol of Brighid's position as a goddess of crossroads." (See)
Christian origins: St. Brighid was once called to the deathbed of a dying man. She set about gathering the rushes from the floor of the room and made a cross, now called the St. Brighid's cross. With this cross she explained how Jesus died for all people and the dying man was converted.
Brigid wove a cross of rushes by a dying chieftain's bed"
"Brigid what is that you're making
From the rushes there?", he said.
Brigid said, "A cross I'm weaving, like the cross where Jesus died."
"Who was Jesus?" asked the chieftain,
"Why was this man crucified?"
Brigid told the gospel story to a dying pagan King.
Lying silently he listened,
Never saying anything.
Then he kissed the cross of rushes
Saying ,"Brigid, thanks to you,
I have come to love this Jesus,
I will follow his way too!"
By Emma Finnegan
(from: http://www.iol.ie/~scphadr/brigid.html)
How to make a Brigid's Cross
Origins and Making a Brighid's Cross from About.com
Other Brighid Links
Below are some of the many sites about Brighid on the web. We have attempted to list sites that offer good information, are well designed, and are not "me too" types of sites. As always, "we are not responsible for information found on other sites."
Saints Preserved Brigid of Ireland
Virtual Shrine of the Goddess Brighid
Personal page dedicated to Brighid
The RATH of Brighid
Brigit of the Celts
Brigid's Sparkling Flame Blogspot
Brigit by Susa Morgan Black
Brigit: "The Mary of the Gael"
The Lonely Path - Blessings, prayers, poems and more for the lovely Goddess Brighid Blogspot
Brighid Goddess and Saint
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