About
Imbolc is an old Irish festival marking the start of spring, linked from medieval times with the lambing season and later kept as Lá Fhéile Bríde, St Brigid's Day. The meaning of the name is uncertain, though it is often connected with milk or ewes. Brigid, whether seen as goddess, saint or both, is at the heart of its folk customs. Today it is also one of the eight sabbats of the Wheel of the Year, a modern twentieth-century framework that not every tradition uses.
Customs
- Weaving a Brigid's cross from rushes or straw
- Making a brídeog, a small doll of Brigid, and giving her a bed by the hearth
- Leaving a cloth or ribbon outside overnight for Brigid to bless, the brat Bríde
- Visiting holy wells and springs
- Spring cleaning and lighting candles to welcome the returning light
Food
- Colcannon and butter
- Bannock or soda bread
- Milk, buttermilk and cheese
- Seed cakes
- Recipe: Brigid's bannock 30 minutes
A simple ritual
- Sweep your doorstep and open a window briefly to let in fresh air.
- Light a candle in a safe holder and welcome Brigid to your home.
- Weave a simple cross from rushes, straw or paper strips while thinking of what you want to grow this year.
- Hang a ribbon or strip of cloth outside overnight for Brigid's blessing.
- In the morning bring it in and keep it as a charm of healing and comfort.
- Put out the candle and share a little milk or bread with the birds.
Never leave candles or fires unattended, and keep them away from pets and children.
Who is honoured
- Brigid Keeper of the sacred flame