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Imbolc and St Brigid's Day
The start of spring in the Gaelic year, tied to the goddess and saint Brigid, with rush crosses hung over doors and cloths left out for her blessing.
About Imbolc and St Brigid's Day
Imbolc, on 1 February, is the old Gaelic marker of spring and of the first lambing. It became the feast of St Brigid, who shares her name and some of her attributes with an older Irish goddess, though how much of one passes into the other is debated. In Ireland people weave Brigid's crosses from rushes and hang them in the house or byre as a protection. A cloth, the brat Bríde, is left outside on the eve to be touched by her and is then kept as a charm for the year. In 2023 Ireland made St Brigid's Day a public holiday, and modern Pagans keep Imbolc as one of the four fire festivals of the Wheel of the Year.
Also part of it, and being written: Imbolc (The festival.), Brigid (Goddess and saint.), Brigid's cross (The rush cross hung for protection.), Wheel of the Year (Where Imbolc sits in the modern Pagan calendar.).
Written by the EveryJaadu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Imbolc" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family, and are described as belief and practice. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.