The Feast of St. Brigid

The Feast of St. Brigid is a celebratory time whose exact origins are lost to time. February 1st is the Feast of St. Brigid. It is also Imbolc, the Gaelic fire festival. So, are we celebrating a Catholic saint, a pagan goddess or both? Let’s explore the tangled history of Ireland’s famous female patron saint.

Imbolc

Imbolc or Imbolg is a Gaelic seasonal fire festival. There are three other fire festivals celebrated by the Gaelic people which include Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain (modern day Halloween). It is mentioned in early Irish literature and believed to be a pagan festival associated with the lambing season and the fertility goddess Brigid.

The meaning of the word Imbolc is unclear. It could refer to the pregnancy of the sheep, ‘to wash or cleanse oneself’, ‘milk’, and ‘in the belly’. The festival was to celebrate the start of spring. Lodged about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, Imbolc would see the seasons begin to change. The ewes were giving birth to their lambs and the people could begin collecting milk again.

Goddess of Fire and Fertility

Brigid, Brigit, Brig or Brid was a popular Gaelic goddess in pre-Christian Ireland. She was a fire goddess and a fertility goddess. In Irish mythology she appears as a member of the Tuatha De Danann (folk of the goddess Danu). She was the daughter of the Dagda and the wife of Bres to whom she had a son.

She was noted as “the goddess whom poets adored”. In some tales she had two sisters Bridgid the healer and Brigid the smith. This suggests that she was considered a triple deity or that Brigid was a title given to many or all Irish goddesses. Regardless, Brigid was a popular goddess. She was a protector of animals and women; she was a woman of wisdom and as a fire goddess she brought light to drive away the dark.

Imbolc becomes St. Brigid’s Day

Reaching Ireland around 400 AD, Christianity spread slowly. While it may be impossible to determine if Brigid was ever a real person, there are some old manuscripts that recount her life. The histories tell how Brigid was born (about 451 AD) to a father who was a pagan Chieftan. Her mother was a slave and a Christian. If the histories are true, her mother was baptized by the famous St. Patrick himself. If you are interested in St. Patrick, you can read my blog about him here.

Always devout, Brigid annoyed her father by giving away his riches to those in need. Several stories tell about her father’s decision to sell her either as a slave or a wife, though she eventually becomes a nun. One story tells how she is to be married off, so she prays to become ugly and undesirable. Her prayer is answered when she plucks out her own eye. Too ugly to be married off, she is allowed to join a convent. When she takes her vows, miraculously her eye is healed.

Many miracles are attributed to St. Brigid. Many of these miracles deal with healing; charity; cows, sheep and dairy; fire; and fertility.

One story tells of how she acquired the land for her monastery at Kildare. She approached a King and asked for the land. He refused. She prayed and her prayer was answered. This time, when she asked the King, she asked for as much land as her cloak covered. The King laughed and agreed as it was a small cloak. Four of her sisters took a corner of her cloak and began to spin in a circle. Eventually the cloak covered several acres. The King was shocked, he converted to Christianity and gave her the land. This is the land where the monastery was built. Visitors can go to Kildare Cathedral which was built on the original monastery site.

One of my favorite miracles tells how Brigid turned a bathtub full of water into a bathtub full of beer. That is my kind of Saint. Another story tells how a pagan chieftain lay dying. Brigid sat by his bedside and played with some of the rushes on the floor. She weaved them together creating a four armed cross. As she did this, she talked to the dying man of Christianity. He converted, was baptized and died not long after. The rushes weaved into crosses are called Brigid’s cross.

St. Brigid’s Death and Veneration

Brigid lived a long life. She died on February 1st. The year is a little more questionable. Many Irish websites are stating it is the 1,500th anniversary. This would put her date of death at 524 AD. However, many sites and historical texts list her date of death from 521AD to 525 AD.

Regardless of her date of death, she has been venerated since. Her monastery grew and flourished. Eventually, like many pagan celebrations and traditions, Imbolc became St. Brigid’s day. Imbolc traditions, not well recorded, morphed into St. Brigid’s Day traditions.

Some traditions include setting out clothes or fabric to be blessed by the Saint as she passes through. Many people make St. Brigid’s crosses and hang them over their doors to protect their homes.

One tradition is a direct carryover from Imbolc. During the time of Imbolc, it was believed to be when the Cailleach, or divine hag of Gaelic tradition, gathers her firewood for the rest of winter. Legend says if she wishes to make the winter last longer, she will make the weather bright and sunny, so she is able to gather plenty of firewood However, if the weather is foul, she is asleep, and winter is almost over. So, let’s hope February 1st is a bit rainy.

The Feast of St. Brigid’s

Pulling apart the web of time and embellishment is impossible. Finding where the goddess tradition ends and the life of a saint begins is unlikely. But does it really matter in the end? If you are interested in learning more about St. Brigid visit the National Museum of Ireland and St. Brigid’s Cathedral.

For some local fun and celebration visit Alchemie, The Magic of Mixing and Mingling for some special drinks. For some St. Brigid jewelry, books or artwork visit Brigid’s Cross Religious and Spiritual Treasures.