There are many festivals which were once celebrated throughout Ireland from the Celtic calendar that have fallen by the wayside, so few have survived in to the modern times, once they were an integral part of the cycle of the year, as we were so closely woven to the ebb and flow of the seasons. One celebration has continued and is currently seeing a fresh following, one it so richly deserves.
Imbolg or Lá Fhéile Bríde, celebrated midway between the winter solstice and spring equinox on February 1st.
Brigid’s beginnings.
Originally Brigid was believed to be a pagan Goddess of the Tuatha De Danan (a famed mystical Irish race) she is associated with healing, fertility, inspiration and poetry and protector of the water ways. “Imbolg“, in the belly, acknowledges the ripening of earth to her youthful “maiden” and fertile stage, the quickening of the season towards the light and the first whisper of spring. Brigid was thought to sweep across the land at this time, her touch awakening mother earth from her winter slumber and traditionally people would leave out clothing (white or green) such as scarves, to be blessed by Brigid, to be used for healing purposes, as she brought fertility and light back to the land after the depths of cold, long, barren winters.
People would weave the fire wheel symbol or Brigid’s cross, traditionally using reeds or willow. This would be hung over a hearth or beside a door to protect the inhabitants and again receive the blessing of Brigid for a year of health and abundance to come. There are many other traditions associated with this turning of the wheel to be explored.
Brigid became Christianised and was incorporated into the traditional religious calendar as the feast of St.Brigid of Kildare, a female patron saint, and the patron saint of fallen women, which is still celebrated today.
Interestingly in Ireland most people regard February 1st as the beginning of Spring, while the rest of the Northern hemisphere consider March the first month of Spring.
Brigid’s reawakening – auspicious timing.
“hope after the long darkness of disconnect from nature and ultimately ourselves”
In a time when the Mother earth is in the hour of precarious and desperate need for healing and the loving caress of a Goddess, Brigid is finding herself and her ideals being called upon once again, unearthed in that hour of need. Our lands are desperate for the blessing of Brigid, her protection of the water ways, her healing love and once again people are feeling the urge to pay homage and reconnect, through her, to the turning of the season and the call to honour our Mother. She brings hope with her, as she did to the people longing for the first faint echoes of spring after the long nights of winter, she may now be sending us a message of similar hope after the long darkness of disconnect from nature and ultimately ourselves.
Celebrating Brigid
Gathering with like minded souls to honour Imbolg and the Goddess Brigid and celebrate her bounties is a beautiful way to reconnect with this wonderful age old tradition with many festivities available for people to come together and celebrate. If you feel the call to honour and meditate on what Brigid represents in our modern world, or would simply like to try something new or meet some new friends, there are some beautiful offerings and ways to do so. The following are just a sample of the events being offered.
The lovely Sarah Fox in the Alchemy School of yoga, Cork is offering a bespoke workshop to honour the day. Sarah is a traditional herbalist and experienced yoga and movement practitioner with a wealth of knowledge on Celtic Irish traditions and a passion to match.
Sarah is “offering a day long workshop of yoga, mindful movement, Celtic spirituality, story telling, craft and much more. ”
You can find details and booking information here.
Another way to honour the moment is through communal singing. An event being offered in Bray on the eve of Imbolg, February 31st, invites all to “come sing your heart out”! And who doesn’t feel uplifted after belting out a tune? No need to be a gifted vocal talent here though. This is an opportunity to come, sing with Yasia, who is vocally blessed, accompanied by some beautiful drumming, provided by Sai Kiran. Yasia offers call and response chant, where she gently guides you with the words into an energetic tonal adventure, no experience necessary. The event is in honour of Imbolg this month but the nights are always popular. For more information see here.
And this gathering is also sure to delight, happening at Wexford’s Hook Head Lighthouse, New Ross, and is a community based festival which can be enjoyed freely. “During the weekend visitors to the lighthouse can enjoy a tasting table filled with flavours of local foods and hosted by the award-winning in-house kitchen team, art workshops and St Bridget Cross making with the Hook Lighthouse resident artist Rose, a talk on the meaning of Imbolc with storyteller Baya Salmon-Hawk followed by a visualisation. The Hook Lighthouse Eco Sheriff will host a talk on sustainability and recycling and share insights at the Hook Lighthouse Eco-Education Station and visitors can also enjoy a talk on Imbolc with storyteller Baya Salmon-Hawk and walk the maze to place wishes on the Imbolc Wishing Tree.”
Events take place over the 1st and 2nd of February and include activities for children or an exclusive adult only dawn celebration at the lighthouse itself, for a fee.
Details can be found here.
Simple ways to honour this time:
The traditional St Brigid’s cross or Brigid’s fire wheel.
Willow can be used as a medium for creating the wheel, although any strong reeds can be foraged and used also, as long as you have a natural, pliable, strong reed, branch or grass then you can create your wheel. Follow the steps below.
Blessing of cloth
It was believed Brigid would bless items of clothing, blankets, scarves or simple pieces of cloth of green or white, left in the moonlight, a window perhaps, which would be imbued with Brigid’s protective and healing aspects as she passed over the land with her awakening touch. These items were carried on the person for protection or for healing, worn around the neck or laid on the sick.
Lighting a candle.
Imbolc is traditionally a Fire Festival and fire of many kinds is associated with it, the fire of creativity and inspiration, the protective hearth fire, and of course her fire wheel – the Brigid Cross, which heralds her as a Sun Goddess. Simply lighting a white candle can be a way to connect and mark this time. You can invoke Brigid with a simple prayer over the candle;
“Brigid, o’ firey arrow bright,
Bring Your blessed healing light,
Loving Mother, hear my plea,
Attend this circle here with me!
Blessed Brigid, who tends the flame,
And hears Her children call Her name,
Goddess of music, poetry, and art,
Who brings inspiration and lifts the heart,
Three Brigids–Maiden, Mother, Crone,
Loving light of hearth and home,
Come and bless this sacred space,
By Your will and by Your grace,
And as we merry meet and merry part,
May I carry Your peace within my heart!”
Credit- Autumn Rose
However you decide to celebrate Brigid, do so with the intent to heal, ignite and inspire as she does and invoke all she embodies.
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