Imbolc: The Festival of Brigid

Taken from The Hermetic Sentinel for the Week of 1/29/2023

By Sister Kate | Edited by Rev. Mother Mary Kateryn 3/3/2025 for The Order of Sen-Taur Knowledge Base

Saint Brigid's Day and the Goddess Brigid

Imbolc, celebrated on February 1, marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox. It is one of the four major Celtic festivals, associated with fertility, purification, and renewal.

Imbolc’s Connection to Saint Brigid

Saint Brigid's Day is believed to be a Christian adaptation of the earlier Pagan festival honoring the Goddess Brigid. Brigid is a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann and daughter of Dagda, associated with poetry, healing, blacksmithing, and protection. Her sacred fire in Kildare was tended by Pagan priestesses and later by Christian nuns.

Sacred Traditions and Customs

• Brigid’s Cross: Woven from rushes or straw for home protection.
• Brigid’s Doll (Brideog): A symbolic doll carried to bless homes.
• Fire and Light Rituals: Candles and fires are lit to welcome the return of light.
• Holy Wells: Pilgrimages include offerings of coins or cloth strips.
• Weather Divination: Traditional signs predict winter’s end.
• Spring Cleaning: A symbolic act of renewal.

Sacred Sites and Astronomical Alignments

• The Mound of the Hostages (Hill of Tara)
• Cairn L (Slieve na Calliagh, Loughcrew)

Christian Counterpart: Candlemas

Candlemas, observed on February 2, parallels Imbolc with its themes of purification and light, known in Irish tradition as the 'Feast Day of Mary of the Candles.'

Imbolc in Modern Practice

• Neopagan and Wiccan Celebrations: Many celebrate it based on lunar cycles or the first signs of spring.
• Celtic Reconstructionists: Revive ancient practices using historical sources.
• The Order of Sen-Taur: Recognizes Imbolc as a major Sabbat in the Wheel of the Year.

The Eternal Flame of Brigid

Brigid’s sacred flame has persisted for centuries, tended by priestesses and later nuns at Kildare, symbolizing divine wisdom, fertility, and protection.

Conclusion

Imbolc bridges ancient and modern traditions, honoring Brigid in her many forms. Whether through historical rites, Wiccan Sabbats, or personal devotion, her legacy endures.

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