Mastodawn

Brighid's Ogham Grove Jan 31, 2025

BRIGHID AT IMBOLG by Veronica Smith

The main Festival of Goddess Brighid / Saint Brighid in the Celtic Solar Calendar is IMBOLG. It takes place at the mid-point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox and is regarded (in Ireland at least!) as the beginning of Spring.

Original drawing of Goddess Brighid by artist Yuri Leitch

In the Gregorian calendar, Imbolg takes place on the fixed date of 1st February. It is known as “Saint Brighid’s Day” and has recently become a Bank Holiday in Ireland. Saint Brighid and Saint Patrick are the two patron saints of Ireland, although only Saint Brighid is native Irish, Saint Patrick being a Romano-British missionary from Wales.

On 2nd February is the Christian festival of CANDLEMAS, when the church candles are blessed. Is it coincidence that this should happen on the day following that of Saint Brighid, who was renowned for tending a perpetual Flame of Hope?!

That said, the Gregorian calendar is not in sync with our planet’s solar calendar. In 2025, true astronomical Imbolg (the mid-point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox) does not take place until 3rd February.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Brighid’s festival has several different spellings. It can be “Imbolc” or “Imbolg” or even “Oimelc”. The variations are due to language and cultural differences.

“Bol” means “Belly” in Welsh; whereas “Bolg” means “Belly” in Irish Gaelic. “Oimelc” means “Ewe’s Milk”. All three versions refer to the lambing season. The pregnant ewe (in the belly) gives birth to the spring lambs and provides milk for their young.

Brighid, as both Celtic Goddess and Christian Saint, is the protectress of Sheep and Cattle, which were the main sources of wealth in the Celtic world.

I recently came across another interpretation of the “in the belly” meaning. It is a delightful one! It suggests that Imbolc means “in the belly of the Mother Goddess” because the seeds of Spring are beginning to stir in the womb of Mother Earth!

IMBOLG ASSOCIATIONS WITH BRIGHID

Brighid is particularly associated with white-coloured animals, such as white sheep and white cows with red ears. Milk and its dairy products, such as butter, are part of the Brighidine stories, as well as honey.

The ancient Celtic diet did not include potatoes but was reliant on grain, such as oats. So, if you want to create an Imbolg menu, think of dairy produce and oats, using honey as the sweetener! I always make a festival loaf and any bread recipes (or cookies!) that include oats, are very appropriate.

The chief flower of Imbolg is SNOWDROP. This tiny white flower is a sign of Brighid’s resilience. It appears at a time when few other plants can survive the chill temperatures of a lingering winter.

LEGENDS OF IMBOLG AND BRIGHID

There are many different stories surrounding Brighid as Bringer of Spring. Like the festival name, these stories vary according to regional customs.

One basic theme is that Winter, being represented by the Hag or Cailleach (the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess) takes captive Brighid or Bride, who is the Spring Maiden.

It is very similar to the ancient Greek story of Persephone, daughter of the Corn Goddess Demeter, being abducted by Hades, Lord of the Underworld. Demeter is so distressed by the disappearance of her daughter that she neglects her duties as fertility goddess and the land becomes barren. The other deities must intervene, negotiating a compromise between Demeter and Hades. For nine months of the year, Persephone can return to her mother, bringing fertility back to the land, but for the last three months, she must return to her husband in the Underworld, when the land becomes barren.

In the Celtic version, it is the Crone of Winter, who abducts the Spring Maiden but the Maiden manages to escape, or is rescued, in time to bring back the Sun and Spring to the land. In another variation, it is Brighid Herself, who changes from Crone to Spring Maiden to Earth Mother and then back to Crone, according to the seasons.

Regardless of which version is followed, it is customary to make great ceremony of “inviting” Brighid into the home at Imbolg. “Brighid has Come! Brighid is welcome! Failte!”

CUSTOMS HONOURING BRIGHID AT IMBOLG

There are so many regional customs about honouring Brighid at Imbolg that it would fill a book – or probably several books! I will only look at a few of them here.

CLEANING THE HOUSE AND HEARTH:

As a Goddess of Fire and Water, Brighid needs to be welcomed into a clean home!

Water cleanses, particularly around doorways and thresholds. Cleaning windows allows in more of that welcome Spring sunshine, to brighten up the house or apartment! Alternatively, you could perform a ceremony to bless a local water-source, even if it is only your own bathroom!

The fire-place (if you have one) should be swept clean. In Ireland, where turf (peat-brickettes) is used on the fire, it is possible to “smoor” the embers; that is to bank down the fire over-night, when it can be revived the next morning. Since coming to France, where wood is used instead of turf, I have not found that possible, If you do not have a fire at all, then cleaning around your cooker is just as symbolic.

MAKING THE SAINT BRIGHID’S CROSS

It is customary, on Imbolg Eve, for the family to gather and make new Saint Brighid’s Crosses, to replace last year’s ones. Traditionally, these distinctive crosses were made from rushes or even straw from last year’s harvest, which is all well and good if you live in a rural place and have access to these materials.

Myself, I use stiff paper to make my St Brighid’s Crosses. The paper ones have the advantage that you can write prayers and intentions on them.

If you don’t have the time (or skill) to make rush or paper crosses, then there are plenty of ready-made permanent versions, made from pottery or metal and also jewellery to wear. Simply cleaning your “hard-copy” version is an act of reverence in itself!

Apart from jewellery, it is customary to hang your St Brighid’s Cross at the front door, to protect the home.

BHRAT

Another popular tradition is to hang outside a piece of cloth on Imbolg Eve, the idea being that Brighid will bless the cloth as She passes by your home. Once the cloth is blessed, then it can be used for healing headaches and injuries, by wrapping the cloth around the afflicted area.

Some use a fresh piece of cloth each year. Others use the same piece of cloth every year. Some hang out shawls, to capture Brighid’s essence, so that the owner can wrap themselves (or the person they are healing) in Brighid’s “embrace”.

The long and the short of it is that the cloth or shawl becomes a sacred object, like a prayer shawl, imbued with Brighid’s healing energy.

DOLLS AND OTHER SYMBOLS

Some folk like to make Bride Dolls (effigies of Brighid), which they place in a toy bed at Imbolg, to signify Brighid’s custom of hospitality. “Brighid is welcome to our house!”

Another custom, which seems particularly popular among Irish emigrants to America, is the weaving of wreaths, made from seasonal foliage. At each of the eight Celtic Solar Festivals, the wreath is changed.

There are lots more customs associated with Brighid at Imbolg but it is not my intention to cover them all in this article.

CONCLUSION

Whatever way you chose to celebrate the festival, Brighid will be happy that you have taken time off from your busy schedules to remember Her. Simply lighting a candle and saying a prayer to Her will be enough to connect with Blessed Brighid. Beannachtai!

Author: Veronica Smith first published on 31st January 2025