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A quarter day festival -

Imbolc was one of the 'quarter days' celebrated in Ireland, marking a transition from one season to the next. Imbolc (February 1) signaled the beginning of spring; Bealtaine (May 1) was the start of summer; Lúnasa (August 1) brought in the harvest season; and Samhain (November 1) was the beginning of the dark season.

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Imbolc -

In old tradition and mythology, Imbolc was celebrated around the beginning of February. Imbolc literally means "in the belly," and refers to the pregnancy of ewes at this time of year.

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Imbolc -

Lambs are born in Ireland between February and April, and Imbolc marks the beginning of what's referred to as "lambing season."

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Celtic calendar -

Imbolc was a celebration of fertility, the arrival of warmer weather, and new growth. It marked a time when new life began to emerge after the depths of winter.

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A liminal time -

Irish feast days were always celebrated on the eve of the day itself. This was because the eve of a feast day was considered a very liminal time, when the veil was thin.

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A liminal time -

In other words, it was a time when the Otherworld was very close. Appeals for protection and blessing were extra effective, being more likely to be heard.

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Celtic goddess Bríg -

Bríg was a goddess of pre-Christian Ireland. She appears in Irish mythology as a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and is associated with wisdom, poetry, healing, protection, smithing, and domesticated animals. Saint Brigid shares many qualities and her feast day with this ancient Celtic goddess.

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Brigid's beginnings -

Brigid was born in about 450 CE. Her father was a chieftain, her mother a slave. Her birth came almost 20 years after St. Patrick is credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland.

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Brigid's beginnings -

As a baby, it's said she refused to drink anything but the milk of a sacred cow. Legend says she grew up to stroll the countryside, milking cattle, feeding the hungry, and tending to the sick.

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A miracle -

Brigid is said to have carried out 46 miracles. Her most famous? On one occasion she somehow managed to provide enough beer from one keg to supply 18 different churches.

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Animals -

Many of Brigid's miracles involved animals: curing them, rescuing them, and frequently saving them from nasty humans.

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Kildare church -

She's also said to have founded a church in what is present-day Kildare, made from the wood of oak trees. Under Brigid, Kildare housed the treasures of kings and the fugitives of Ireland. Today, the cathedral in the town is named after her.

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A sacred fire -

In ancient times, a sacred fire to Brigid was kept burning in Kildare, where priestesses gathered to invoke her. In later years, Brigid was honored with feasts, and bonfires took place.

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Feast day -

It's said St. Brigid passed away on February 1, 523 CE. On this day, Irish people celebrate her and the older Celtic festival of Imbolc.

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Walking the earth -

Brigid is said to walk the earth on Imbolc eve. Before going to bed, each member of the household may leave a piece of clothing or strip of cloth outside for Brigid to bless.

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Rushes -

Rush crosses are made in her honor, to be hung on the door or displayed inside. They serve to mark the passing of the day and to bless the home.

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St. Brigid's cross -

St. Brigid's cross is associated with the patron saint. There are several stories surrounding how the cross came into existence.

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St. Brigid's cross -

The most famous story tells of how as a chieftain lay dying next to a river, Brigid fashioned a cross out of some rushes that were growing alongside it.

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Baptism -

As the man lay dying, he was baptized. As Brigid explained the cross to him, she was able to bring him some comfort in his last moments.

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An Irish symbol -

St. Brigid's cross is an enduring symbol of Ireland, alongside the shamrock and the harp, and can trace its roots back to the earliest Irish mythology.

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House blessing -

Even after her feast day, crosses remain hung in the home for blessing and protection. Many families placed the cross in the under-thatch of the house. You could guess how many years a family lived in the home by how many crosses were to be found there.

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Weddings -

For newlyweds moving into a new home, it was common to give the gift of a St. Brigid's cross to wish the couple well with starting a family.

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Livestock blessing -

Leftover materials from making the crosses were sprinkled into the bedding of livestock in the shed, while the previous year's crosses might be burned and the ashes dispersed on the land.

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Snowdrops -

St. Brigid is associated with the snowdrop, which appears in nature around her feast day of February 1. The snowdrops, like Brigid, symbolize purification, renewal, and inspiration.

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Liscannor, County Clare -

There are numerous places in Ireland where you can find running water wells dedicated to St. Brigid. Numbering around 3,000, their waters are said to have healing powers. One of the most impressive is near Liscannor, Co. Clare.

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St. Brigid's well -

In Faughart, Co. Louth, a stone beehive hut encloses the well, and there is a nearby shrine with ancient stone stations believed to have healing powers.

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A new public holiday -

In 2023, the Irish government decided to add a new public holiday to the national calendar. Perhaps due to her popularity and lore, Brigid's feast day was chosen.

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Modern celebrations -

In places such as Marsden, in England, a fire festival sometimes take place to mark the passing of Imbolc: a modern take on the ancient festival.

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How to celebrate -

Today, you can celebrate Imbolc or St. Brigid with offerings, feasts, spring cleaning, and sowing seeds—whether literally, or figuratively!

Sources: (Ireland.com) (National Museum of Ireland) (IrishCentral) (Atlas Obscura) (Britannica)

See also: When is the winter solstice, and what happens?

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