Imbolc and the Goddess Brigid
The goddess Brigid, "the Exalted One," is a central figure in the Tuatha Dé Danan, the pantheon of Irish deities in Celtic mythology. As the goddess most associated with the Wheel of the Year or Celtic calendar holiday of Imbolc (here's more on the Wheel of the Year), Brigid represents the spark that reignites the dormant life within the earth, heralding the return of spring. She is sometimes seen as a triple deity, either as maiden, mother, and crone, or as three sisters, with her and her two sisters representing a healer, a poet, and a smith.
The Celtic goddess Brigid is the goddess of the forge fires, which are a metaphor for the light of wisdom and the heat of divine compassion. She is a goddess of transformation, like fire and like Imbolc. She is a goddess of change and new beginnings.
Hearth Goddess
Brigid's connection to fire makes her an important figure in the home. As a hearth deity in pre-Christian Celtic spirituality, Brigid connects to home, family, and, by extension, guest hospitality within the domestic sphere.
Brigid is the guardian spirit who imbues a home with her most cherished qualities: joy, togetherness, creativity nourished through food and drink, caring for both strangers and loved ones, and expressions of gratitude woven into daily rituals. Brigid watches over the safety and well-being of families, the fields, and farms, where she brings the promise of growth and wealth.
Brigid's role as a guardian is an important part of her worship, and it's especially clear during Imbolc. Brigid's crosses, hanging over doors and windows to protect them, are a sign of her protection and care—especially protection from fire.
Goddess of Sacred Wells
Water is sacred to Brigid, especially in rivers, springs, and wells. Many of these wells are mystical, spiritual retreats. Pilgrims travel to them, especially during Imbolc, to draw water charged with Brigid's healing properties. She is, after all, the goddess of healing and nurture.
Communities that depend on agriculture, like the ancient Celts, revere the Celtic goddess Brigid for bringing fertility to the soil. Through centuries-old rites and rituals that go back to ancient Ireland, farmers ask her blessings for healthy crops and livestock. Making Brigid's beds is a common associated Imbolc ritual.
Imbolc Goddess Brigid
A cross quarter holiday on the Wheel of the Year, Imbolc is celebrated in early February (February 1st or February 2nd) in the northern hemisphere (early August in the southern hemisphere), the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. That’s near Groundhog Day, if you’re in the U.S. It is associated with the return of sun light after winter's darkness, the renewed life that is beginning to grow in the earth, and ritual cleansing and goal setting for the spring ahead.
Brigid is a powerful symbol of feminine creativity and empowerment. Invoked to inspire creativity and craftsmanship, she is the patroness of the arts, especially poetry and smith work. She promotes creativity and artistic expression. The peaceful times spent at your craft, when concentration and meditation meld, are when her effect is most noticeable.
And Brigid is the goddess of healing; one goddess with three very different but poetically interlaced themes: poetry, healing, and smithwork. You need all three elements; don't leave the poetry out of your life for the sake of your work.
The Imbolc Celebration of Brigid
On Imbolc, people make Brigid's crosses and effigies called Brídeógs, which are then paraded through towns to bring good luck to the area. A Brigid cross invokes the protection of the goddess Brigid.
Fires and candles are lit to honor her as a goddess of fire and to send the dark winter away. People read poems and sing songs in honor of the goddess of poetry. (Here's more on how to celebrate Imbolc, including how to make your own Brigid cross.)
Brigid demonstrates the holy balance between giving and resting, between the creative fire and the healing waters. Imbolc is a time for people to reflect and plan their creativity.
Brigid represents the renewal and rebirth of the Imbolc season. Her celebrations remind us that the light gets brighter every day, and life starts over under her watchful eye.
Saint Brigid
As Christianity spread throughout Europe, many pre Christian traditions melded with Christianity. A fertility goddess or other pagan goddess might become associated with a Christian saint. A pagan festival might turn into the feast day of a patron saint of the Catholic church. A song might change its lyrics and become a hymn. And Celtic deities were good candidates for a new life as patron saints.
So the Celtic goddess Brigid moved out of Celtic mythology and into Christian mythology. St. Brigid was a holy woman who became the patron saint of Ireland, Irish nuns, midwives, newborn babies, and holy wells. Brigid's cross became St. Brigid's cross. The Imbolc celebration became a public holiday known as St. Brigid's Day. Nuns dedicated to St Brigid tended an eternal flame in her honor.
Today, the Celtic goddess Brigid and St. Brigid are easily confused. And perhaps that's okay. Honoring Brigid remains part of Celtic culture one way or another. Brigid's Day is special either way. Brigid crosses can mean different things to different people and still adorn homes in the early spring, as some celebrate Imbolc and others Saint Brigid's Day. It's a nice reminder that we still have some things in common with our pre Christian era ancestors.
More on Imbolc
Now that you have your Brigid's Day associations, do you want to explore more about Imbolc? Here are some more Imbolc ideas and resources:
About Imbolc: The winter holiday between the winter solstice and the spring equinox
How to Celebrate Imbolc: Looking to the future and into your own soul with Brigid during the depths of winter darkness
Imbolc Journal Prompts: Journal prompts relevant to Brigid, Imbolc, the magic of the dark winter season, and the blessings in your life
Imbolc Meditation: An Imbolc meditation to help you honor Brigid and your spring journey ahead
Imbolc Associations: The symbols that connect with this holy season and celebration
Happy Imbolc!
