The history, origin and traditions of Imbolc, or the Festival of Brigit.
Imbolc (im-molk), also known as 'An Fhéill Bhride' (the Feast of Brigid), is the festival of Brigit, and one of the four primary festivals of the Celtic Calendar celebrated among the Gaelic peoples with a history that predates Christ. Brigit is one of the chief Goddesses in the Celtic pantheon whose attributes, names and associations include the following:
- Names: Bride, Brid, Brig, Bridey, Brigit, Brighid, Briggidda, Brigantia, Brigid, Brighid, Bridget, Mistress of the Mantle
- Patroness of: Poetry, Smithcraft , Childbirth and Healing
- Aspects: Solar
- Attributes: Fire. Light, the return of the Sun, inspiration and all skills associated with fire.
- Sacred Number: 19
- Associations: Cows, Ewes, Cockerel, Serpents, the changing Moon, Ox, Boar, Ram
- Colours: Yellow, White, Gold, Red
In the ancient, agrarian society of the Celts, the heralding of spring was no small thing, having spent months in the frigid cold, often with little food stores left. Cows in particular were vital to the health and well-being of the tribe. Milk was a sacred food to the Celts, the lifeblood of their spirituality, similar to the Christian communion.
Imbolc is a word believed to be derived from the Old Irish i mbolg which translates as 'In the belly', referring to the pregnancy of Ewes - an event which coincided with the onset of spring. Initially celebrated on Februrary 1st, the festival of Brigit represented the point in the Celtic year that divided winter in half; where the crone aspect of the cold months recedes heralding the return of the young spring maiden. The festival of Imbolc celebrates the increasing strength of the new God, still within his child form, and a return of the maiden aspect of the Goddess in the form of Brigit. These traditions and associations of fertility and the connection to spring were further transliterated into the Christian celebration known as 'Easter'.
Brigit has long been associated with February and the return of Spring, going back further than the history of Christianity. In later years, Christianity converted this popular pagan holiday into Candlemas, retaining many of the ancient traditions and timeframe. Brigit became known as St. Brigid, a celebrated saint second only to St. Patrick in popularity.
Imbolc is a festival of waxing light - a time when the earth begins to see more sun - and purification. Brigid, being one of the most powerful feminine archetypes in Celtic history, was seen as a maiden goddess,rescued from the Cailleach (Hag) of winter by her lover Angus. This mythos of metaphor alludes to the first hints of spring and the new quickening of life after the long sleep of winter.
Traditional Rituals
Traditional rituals to celebrate Brigit and Imbolc today include relighting the fires of Brigit, representative of the ancient female priesthood at Kildare, Ireland where an ever-burning sacred fire was tended for hundreds of years in her shrine. Nineteen priestesses representing the 19-year cycle of the Celtic "Great Year" tended the fire in turn for 20 days. On that 20th day of each cycle the sacred fire was said to be tended by Brigid herself. The sacred flame was kept burning even after the shrine became a Christian nunnery, until 1220 when Archbishop Henry of Dublin demanded it be extinguished.
To this day watchgroups, such as the Priestesses of Avalon, re-create this ritual in honor of Brigit and as representative of the sacred flame that can never be extinguished. The flame is indicative of the coming return of the sun.
Other rituals representative of Imbolc include creating Brigit's Bed, making Brigit Crosses and Corn Maiden dolls.
Brigit Cloaks
The Bhat Bhride, or Cloak of Brigit, was traditionally laid out before sunset on the eve of Brigid's Day (February 1st), and brought in before the sun rose. It was believed to then be blessed by Brigit herself, said to walk the earth on this night, and returned to the home to be displayed in a place of honor and used as needed for healing and protection in the coming year. Today, Bhat Bhrides can be purchased online, or you can make your own for a relatively inexpensive sum.
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