#brigid's day

[drithligh]

🔥🌊Beannachtaí Bhríde - Brigid's Blessings 🇮🇪🙏🌱

[julesofnature]

Imbolc or Brigid's Day (February 1st or 2nd) celebrates the midpoint between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. Deeply rooted in Gaelic history, Imbolc intertwines with the ancient celebration of Brigid, the Celtic goddess of hearth, poetry, and healing. As the wheel of the year turns, Imbolc heralds the waning of winter and the impending arrival of spring. The word Imbolc is derived from the Old Irish word "Imbolg," meaning "in the belly," and this Gaelic festival symbolizes the burgeoning life nestled within the womb of the Earth.

Brigid's cross is named for Brigid of Kildare, the only female patron saint of Ireland.

[arwendeluhtiene]

Imbolc ’s lá fhéile Bríde shona daoibh! The start of February marks the festivity of Imbolc, the beginning of Spring in the Celtic calendar, and it is celebrated in Ireland as Brigid’s Day 🎶☀️🍃 . The last three edits of my 2019 closet cosplay/reenactment of the Irish goddess Brighid, solar fire goddess associated with poetry and inspiration, fertility and healing, smithwork, crafts and music, and warlike protection. She’s one of my favourite goddesses in one of my favourite cultures. One of these edits focuses on her protective warlike aspect ⚒️ . My Brigid reenactment posts

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[hollifo]

Imbolg | Watercolour

Imbolg/Brigid's day blessings, and positive new beginnings to all!

[witchofbonesandkeys]

Imbolc spread in my art grimoire.

[sarah-ankh]

Happy imbolc everyone!

[trilliansthoughts]

Imbolc

Imbolc is celebrated from February 1st until sundown on February 2nd and signifies the beginning of spring in the Celtic calendar. Imbolc marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox and is one of several Pagan festivals that highlight some aspect of winter and sunlight to herald the change of seasons.

The celebration of Imbolc dates to pre-Christian times and the earliest mentions in Irish literature are found in the 10th century. Poetry from that time connects the festival to ewe’s milk, with the implication of purification. As this ritual stems from the breeding cycle of sheep and the beginning of lactation, Imbolc traditionally aligned with the first day of spring and the idea of rebirth. The most common explanation for the etymology of Imbolc is from the Irish i mbolc meaning 'in the belly' and refers to pregnant ewes at this time of year.

In Neolithic times, Imbolc celebrations honoured the Pagan goddess Brigid, who was invoked in fertility rites and was also the goddess of poetry, crafts, and healing. Brigid was worshipped by the Filidh, the Celtic poets and historians of ancient Ireland. Brigid is one of the most powerful Celtic gods and is the daughter of the Dagda, the oldest god in the Celtic pantheon of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and the Morrigan, the goddess of war.

The Mound of the Hostages (Duma na nGiall) is on the Hill of Tara in the Boyne Valley (Brú na Bóinne), near Newgrange. The dolmen, which encases a megalithic tomb built before 3000 BC, was used for burials from the early Neolithic up to 1600 BCE. The location was used for the symbolic exchange of hostages, including those held by Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary High King of Ireland. On Imbolc and Samhain, the entrance of the passage tomb aligns with the rising sun, which shines down the passageway and illuminates the inner chamber.

Imbolc is also believed to be when the Cailleach, the divine hag of Gaelic tradition, gathers firewood for the rest of winter. If she wishes to make the winter last longer, the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. However, if Imbolc is a day of bad weather, it means the Cailleach is asleep, and winter is almost over. Modern day Pagans set up an altar to celebrate Brigid with a corn husk doll, white flowers, a bowl of milk, and candles. A group gathering casts a circle and recites invocations to receive a blessing from Brigid.

Brigid was said to visit homes on the eve of the Imbolc festival. To receive her blessings, an effigy of the goddess was crafted from rushes and oats, clad in pieces of cloth and flowers, and put in a basket overnight, with gifts of food and drink. Brigid was evoked to protect homes and livestock and items of clothing were left outside for her to bless. On Imbolc, the effigy of Brigid, known as a Brídeóg or Biddy, was paraded around the community by girls and young women. Sometimes, a young girl took on the role of Brigid and went from house to house wearing a crown, and carrying a shield, both made from rushes.

Over the centuries, Brigid was adopted by Christianity as Saint Brigid to become one of Ireland’s three patron saints along with Saint Patrick and Saint Colmcille. Saint Brigid is said to have lived in the 6th century and founded the important monastery of Kildare. While there are many stories about her, there are few historical facts. In the 12th century, legend holds that the nuns in Kildare attended to a fire built in Saint Brigid’s honour. The fire had burned for 500 years and produced no ash, and only women were allowed in proximity of the fire.

Imbolc rituals still include burning lamps and lighting bonfires in tribute to Brigid, who is associated with both milk and fire. Although there is some debate that Saint Brigid was a separate historical figure who shares the same name as the Celtic goddess, many scholars maintain that they are the same person with the later saint based on the earlier Pagan deity. As with many Pagan traditions and festivals, the names and dates were often adopted by Christianity to make the new faith more acceptable.

On February 1st, people display a Brigid’s cross woven from rushes gathered by rivers and ponds. Traditionally, the cross is set over doorways and windows to welcome Brigid and protect the home from any kind of harm. Brigid’s Day parades and “Biddy’s Day” festivals are still held in some towns around Ireland, and it is also traditional to visit a holy well, praying for good health while walking clockwise around the well. Imbolc celebrates the promise of renewal, inspiration, and the anticipation of spring. So, light a candle to symbolise the returning sun and take a moment to reflect on the intentions you wish to nurture this season.

[pallastrology]

ritualising the mundane: imbolc with chronic illness

artwork by john duncan

imbolc is fast approaching. i find the debate around whether or not the eight 'wheel of the year' days are historically accurate fascinating, but i don't think today is the day to get into all that. for me personally, it makes sense to celebrate these days from quite a few perspectives, so i like to include a small celebration as part of my own practice. this post is all about how i am holding space for imbolc celebrations without ignoring my limits.

imbolc is all about spring. it signifies the end of winter and that light and warmth is on its way to us. it is the feast day of saint brigid of kildare, and a sabbat for neopagans. the goddess brigid rules over lambing, smithing, agricultural workers, spring, poetry and healing.

in previous years, i either haven't done anything to celebrate, which led to feeling sort of left out and upset, or have planned out so many things to fill the day that i end up stressed and fatigued afterwards. around a year ago, i got diagnosed with a chronic illness. it wasn't a huge surprise, as it's a genetic thing i was born with and i've had symptoms for a long time, but it did make it clear that i need to change my thinking about my physical health and work on treating myself a bit more gently. i also have a toddler, so the amount of time and resources i can spend on a day has definitely changed. however, it's important to me to be able to include him in my celebrations where it's appropriate and safe to do so.

so, what will i be doing for imbolc this year? i'm planning to make bread, go for a family walk to look for signs of spring, and make a brigid's cross to hang if i can find some rushes while out. i also want to take some time to plan out my garden for the upcoming year, as imbolc is traditionally when you'd start sowing that year's crops. my garden is currently a patch of mud with some rubbish from the previous tenant littered about, and a couple of nearly-dead little trees, so i don't think i'll be doing that much planting this year; it's more about giving the garden some much-needed love and care, and helping to bring it back to life. i think to some, my imbolc plans might sound quite mundane or boring, certainly not very witchy... but to me, connecting with the earth through a cold walk, engaging with traditional folk practices like bread-making and hanging a brigid's cross, preparing to bring a little piece of earth back to life... that is magical to me. it's all about reconnecting with myself and the world around me, working in harmony with it where i can, putting my intentions out there and nurturing them throughout the year. imbolc is the first whisper of spring, and a time to let hope take hold. this year, i want to believe that i can learn to work in harmony with my body as well as my surroundings, and become more attuned to its needs over time. i think that being outside and active as much as possible is, for my illness at least, one of the best things i can do, and i want to take the time on imbolc to appreciate how lucky i am to be able to do that.

what are your plans for imbolc, if you celebrate? if you have a chronic illness, how does it affect your practices? i hope this post was interesting or enjoyable, if you liked it, please consider checking out more of my work here! xo