The first of February signals an end to Winters darkness or Imbolc and the beginning of Spring. Brigid or St. Brigid is claimed by both Catholics and pagan traditions in Ireland.
Irelands patroness Brigid or St. Brigid is celebrated on the first of February, the beginning of Spring. Ireland has a new public holiday to celebrate this amazing woman which will occur this coming Monday the 6th of February 2023. This is the first public holiday named after a woman.
The first of February signals an end to Winters darkness or Imbolc and the beginning of Spring. Brigid or St. Brigid is claimed by both Catholics and pagan traditions in Ireland. The date has been celebrated since ancient times.
Passage tombs built 6,000 years ago are aligned so the sun rises into the tombs around the 1st of February or Brigid’s Day.
St. Brigid lived near the 6th century and founded a monastery city in Kildare. The saint is associated with wisdom, poetry, healing, protection blacksmithing and domestic animals. There is a fluidity in history to where the goddess Brigid stops and the saint starts with miracles attributed to St. Brigid also part of folklore of the goddess Brigid.
During the sixth century St. Brigid wanted to establish an abbey in Kildare though lacked funds. She approached the local king who at first denied Brigid any of the fertile land of Kildare. He jokingly agreed to gift her the amount of land that could be covered by her cloak. Her companions each took a corner of her cloak and ran in opposite directions; the king at first amused then became alarmed and begged Brigid to stop so that he would not lose all of his land to her claim.
Not only did Brigid successfully establish her abbey from the kings lands Kildare became a seat for female leadership for centuries after. Rather than making an enemy of the king Brigid through her mediation skills made a lifelong ally and both kingdom and abbey prospered through their shared partnership and mutual goals of peace and prosperity.
Irish people celebrate Brigid as saint and goddess as it is what she stands for that deserves recognition. Brigid celebrates the end of darkness and the beginning of hope, of strong wise women in leadership who protected their community and loved art
Brigid’s Blessing
Bless every fireside, every Wall and floor
Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof.
Bless every hand that toils to bring its joy
Bless every foot that walks portals through.
May Brigid bless the house that shelters us.