S1 E16 Imbolc

Brigid

Title

• The Celtic Goddess of smithing, healing, wisdom, wells, motherhood, divination, poetry, protection, and domesticated animals

Description

• A beautiful red haired woman often seen holding a flame or hammer

Duties

•  Protecting livestock and houses from fire, inspiration to poets, and a healer

Lineage

• Daughter of the Dagda

Stories

• Brigid was born at sunrise and she glowed so fiercely that the neighbors rushed over thinking the house was on fire.

Interesting Facts

• Is thought to have become St. Brigid in the Catholic religion

Symbols

• Fire, poetry, crafting projects, wells 

Wishing on a Star

Stars in ancient times were considered to be divine. Falling ones were considered rare. They were often associated with faith and angels. There are two common versions of where this derives from. 

One would be when the Europeans believed that dead people’s souls were falling from the sky and wishing upon them would bring them luck. 

The second is from the  Greek astronomer Ptolemy who believed that the Gods moved the skies, pulled Them apart and when they did so a star might fall from between the gap. In which case the person would close their eyes and make a wish while the Gods looked down upon them, offering a blessing of sorts.

In Romania if a person saw a shooting star it was the  foreshadowing of their death soon to come. This was because of their belief that each soul was tied to a star in the sky. They actually saw each star as a candle and one falling meant it had been blown out.

Indigenous Australians have believed that a shooting star can be a good or bad omen. Good because it brought kind spirits to the earth, bad because it could also bring black magic down with it.

Interesting side fact; this is now the Disney theme song which was first introduced in the Disney movie Pinocchio in 1940.

History Of Imbolg (Ewe’s milk); aka Oimelg/Oilmelc (“butter bag”)

Imbolc is a time between Yule, aka the winter solstice, and the Spring Equinox. It takes place during the ‘ewing season’ or ‘milking time' which is suggestive of the womb of spring. It is that moment of gestation in the coming of spring. For this reason Imbolc is associated with fertility. Often you will hear reference to Imbolc connected to the time when lambs are being born. The importance of the ewe and the lamb had to do with how the people would survive based on how plentiful the milking season was. Because of this association  (in Ireland) Imbolc was often celebrated by eating lamb's meat. 

Imbolc today has set dates in which to celebrate, however, due to the nature of its connection to the lambing season it would’ve been celebrate