For thousands of years Brigit has been known as the Great Bear Mother. She is also known as the Celtic Goddess of the Four Flames and Saint Brigid of Ireland. She was originally the Goddess of the Bear Clans from over 4000 years ago and her flame has been tended almost continuously for hundreds of years at the Abbey in Kildare, Ireland. In the Winter months, she goes on a journey into the underworld and returns on January 31st, known as Imbolc, to celebrate the survival of another year of winter and bring forth the energy of new birth for the coming Spring.