Today, February 1st, is the Feast Day of St. Brigit of Kildare, after Patrick perhaps, Ireland's mst famous saint. Her feast day is also Imbolc, the Celtic celebration of the dawn of spring. My first big love in life was a girl named Bridget, and every time this day comes around I am reminded of days long ago when life seemed simpler and everything was shrouded in the mist of new and first loves.
It's said that imbolc, comes from the Old Irish i mbolg, and means 'in the belly' referring to the pregnancy of ewes. The season was heralded by spring lambs and cattle lactation apparently. It was also one of the four main celebration days in the Celtic cycle.
Brigit is one of the few saints in the church who stands at the boundary of pagan mythology, Druidism and Christian spirituality. One of the moasteries she founded kept a sacred flame alight that legend says was lit by druids on the site many years before(fire was sacred in both druid and celtic spirituality)--the lamp(symbolizing learning and wisdom) became a part of the iconic symbolism associated with her, as well as a cross made of reeds. The hagiographers portray her as having the power to multiply such things as butter, bacon and milk, to bestow sheep and cattle and to control the weather--I love that stuff, it is so out, and is how myths become fairy tales in my mind.
Anyway, Happy birth of Spring, and hallo Bridget (the other one) wherever you are in the world.
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