View source for Imbolc

{{Short description|Gaelic festival marking the start of spring}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name  = Imbolc / Brigid's Day
| type          = default
| longtype      = Cultural,<br/>Christian ([[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], [[Anglican Communion|Anglican]]),<br/>Pagan ([[Celtic neopaganism]], [[Wicca]])
| image         = Saint Brigid's cross.jpg
| caption       = [[Brigid's cross]]
| nickname      = {{native name|ga|Lá Fhéile Bríde}}<br/>{{native name|gd|Là Fhèill Brìghde}}<br/>{{native name|gv|Laa'l Breeshey}}
| observedby    = Historically: [[Gaels]]<br/>Today: [[Irish people]], [[Scottish people]], [[Manx people]], [[Modern Paganism|Modern Pagans]]
| significance  = beginning of spring, feast day of [[Brigid of Kildare|Saint Brigid]]
| date          = 1 February<br/><small>(or 1 August for some Neopagans in the [[Southern Hemisphere|S. Hemisphere]])</small>
| celebrations  = feasting, making [[Brigid's cross]]es and {{lang|ga|Brídeóg}}s, visiting [[holy well]]s, [[spring cleaning]], [[church service]]s
| relatedto     = {{lang|cy|[[Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau]]}}, [[Candlemas]], [[Groundhog Day]]
}}

'''Imbolc''' or '''Imbolg''' ({{IPA|ga|ə ˈmˠɔlˠəɡ}}), also called '''Saint Brigid's Day''' ({{langx|ga|Lá Fhéile Bríde}}; {{langx|gd|Là Fhèill Brìghde}}; {{langx|gv|Laa'l Breeshey}}), is a [[Gaels|Gaelic]] traditional festival on 1 February.<ref name="Danaher1">{{harvnb|Danaher|1972|p=38}}</ref> It marks the beginning of [[Spring (season)|spring]], and in Christianity, it is the [[calendar of saints|feast day]] of [[Brigid of Kildare|Saint Brigid]], Ireland's patroness saint. Historically, its many [[Folk Catholicism|folk traditions]] were widely observed throughout [[Ireland]], [[Scotland]] and the [[Isle of Man]]. Imbolc falls about halfway<!--this doesn't imply that 1 February *is* the halfway point--> between the [[winter solstice]] and the [[spring equinox (Northern Hemisphere)|spring equinox]]<ref name="McNeill-1">McNeill, F. Marian (1959, 1961) ''The Silver Bough'', Vol.&nbsp;1–4. William MacLellan, Glasgow; Vol. 2, pp.&nbsp;11–42</ref> and is one of [[Quarter days|the four]] Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with [[Bealtaine]], [[Lughnasadh]] and [[Samhain]].<ref>[[Barry Cunliffe|Cunliffe, Barry]] (1997). ''The Ancient Celts''. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Page 188-190.</ref>

Imbolc is mentioned in [[early Irish literature]], although less often than the other seasonal festivals. Historians suggest that Imbolc was originally a pre-Christian (or [[Ancient Celtic religion|pagan]]) festival associated with the [[lambing]] season, the coming of spring, and possibly the goddess [[Brigid]], proposing that the saint and her feast day might be [[Christianization]]s.<ref name="berger">{{Cite book |last=Berger |first=Pamela |url=https://archive.org/details/goddessobscuredt00berg |title=The Goddess Obscured: Transformation of the Grain Protectress from Goddess to Saint |publisher=Beacon Press |year=1985 |isbn=978-0-8070-6723-9 |location=Boston |pages=[https://archive.org/details/goddessobscuredt00berg/page/70 70–73] |url-access=registration}}</ref> A feast of Saint Brigid was first mentioned in the Middle Ages, but its customs were not recorded in detail until the early modern era. In recent centuries, [[Brigid's cross]]es have been woven on St Brigid's Day and hung over doors and windows to protect against fire, illness, and evil. People also made a [[doll]] of Brigid (a {{lang|ga|Brídeóg}}), which was paraded around the community by girls, sometimes accompanied by '[[Wren Day|strawboys]]'. Brigid was said to visit one's home on St Brigid's Eve. To receive her blessings, people would make a bed for Brigid, leave her food and drink, and set items of clothing outside for her to bless. [[Holy well]]s would be visited, a special meal would be had, and the day was traditionally linked with [[weather lore]].

Although many of its traditions died out in the 20th century, it is still observed by some Christians as a religious holiday and by some non-Christians as a cultural one, and its customs have been revived in some places. Since the later 20th century, [[Celtic neopaganism|Celtic neopagans]] and [[Wicca]]ns have observed Imbolc as a religious holiday.<ref name="Danaher1" /><ref name="McNeill-1" /> Since 2023, "Imbolc/St Brigid's Day" has been an annual [[public holiday in the Republic of Ireland|public holiday in Ireland]].<ref name="public holiday">{{cite web |title=Government agrees Covid Recognition Payment and New Public Holiday |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b926b-government-agrees-covid-recognition-payment-and-new-public-holiday/ |website=[[Government of Ireland]] |date=19 January 2022 |publisher=[[Department of the Taoiseach]] |access-date=20 January 2022}}</ref>
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==Name==
The etymology of ''Imbolc'' or ''Imbolg'' is unclear. A common explanation is that it comes from the [[Old Irish]] {{lang|sga|i mbolc}} (Modern Irish: {{lang|ga|i mbolg}}), meaning 'in the belly', and refers to the pregnancy of ewes at this time of year.<ref name="Chadwick1" /> [[Joseph Vendryes]] derived it from Old Irish {{lang|sga|imb-}} (intensive prefix) and {{lang|sga|folc}} ('wash, cleanse'), linking it to {{lang|sga|folcaim}} ('to wash/cleanse oneself') and suggesting it referred to a [[ritual purification|ritual cleansing]].<ref>Vendryes, J., "Imbolc", ''[[Revue Celtique]]'' 41 (1924). pp.241–244.</ref><ref name="Patterson">Patterson, Nerys. ''Cattle Lords and Clansmen: The Social Structure of Early Ireland''. University of Notre Dame Press, 1994. p.129</ref> [[Eric P. Hamp]] derives it from a [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] root meaning both 'milk' and 'cleansing'.<ref name="Hamp">{{Cite journal |last=Hamp |first=Eric |year=1979–1980 |title=Imbolc, Óimelc |journal=Studia Celtica |issue=14/15 |pages=106–113 |author-link=Eric P. Hamp}}</ref> The early 10th century [[Sanas Cormaic|Cormac's Glossary]] has an entry for {{lang|sga|Oímelc}}, calling it the beginning of spring and deriving it from ''oí-melg'' ('ewe milk'), explaining it as "the time that sheep's milk comes".<ref>Meyer, Kuno, ''Sanas Cormaic: an Old-Irish Glossary compiled by Cormac úa Cuilennáin, King-Bishop of Cashel in the ninth century'' (1912).</ref> However, linguists believe this is a [[folk etymology]]; the writer's respelling of the word to give it an understandable origin.<ref>Kelly, Fergus. ''Early Irish Farming: A Study Based Mainly on the Law-texts of the 7th and 8th centuries AD''. School of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1997. p.460</ref>

The 12th century [[Book of Leinster]] version of the ''[[Táin Bó Cúailnge]]'' ('Cattle Raid of Cooley') indicates that Imbolc (spelt ''imolg'' and ''imbuilg'') is three months after the 1 November festival of Samhain.<ref>Ó Cathasaigh, Tomás (1993). "Mythology in Táin Bó Cúailnge", in ''Studien zur Táin Bó Cúailnge'', p.123</ref> In the [[Stowe manuscripts|Stowe]] version, a 14th century modernisation of the same text, Imbolc is changed to ''Fél Brigde'' (St Brigid's Feast), which suggests that St Brigid's Day replaced or absorbed Imbolc.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Torma |first1=Thomas |title=Imbolc, Candlemas and The Feast of St Brigit |journal=Cosmos: The Journal of the Traditional Cosmology Society |date=2002 |volume=18 |page=80}}</ref> Another Old Irish poem about the ''Táin'' in the ''[[Metrical Dindshenchas]]'' says: "''{{lang|sga|iar n-imbulc, ba garb a ngeilt}}''", which [[Edward Gwynn]] translates "after [[Candlemas]], rough was their herding".<ref name="Hamp" /> Candlemas is the Christian holy day which falls on 2 February and is known in Irish as {{lang|ga|Lá Fhéile [[Muire]] na gCoinneal}}, 'feast day of Mary of the Candles'.<ref name="Mackillop1">{{Cite book |last=MacKillop |first=James |title=Dictionary of Celtic mythology |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-19-280120-3 |location=Oxford |page=270}}</ref>

In a 17th century manuscript of the story ''[[Agallamh na Seanórach]]'', Imbolc is spelled ''Iomfhoilcc''.<ref>Williams, Éimear, "Bealtaine and Imbolg (oimelc) in Cormac’s Glossary", ''[[Studia Celtica]]'' 39 (2005): pp.123–143.</ref>

Peter O'Connell's Irish-English dictionary (1843) identifies ''Oimelc'' or ''Imbulc'' with ''Féil Brighde'', the Feast of Saint Brigid.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Joyce |first1=Patrick Weston |title=A Social History of Ancient Ireland |date=1920 |publisher=Longmans, Green & Company |page=388}}</ref>

==Origins==
[[File:Brigidakapelle (Kronenburgerhütte) 04.jpg|thumb|Saint Brigid depicted as a shepherdess with a lamb and calf]]
Historians such as [[Ronald Hutton]] and [[Dáithí Ó hÓgáin]] argue that Imbolc must have pre-Christian origins.<ref name="stations">{{Cite book |last=Hutton |first=Ronald |url=https://archive.org/details/stationsofsunhis0000hutt/page/135 |title=Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain |date=1996 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-820570-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/stationsofsunhis0000hutt/page/135 134–138] |author-link=Ronald Hutton}}</ref><ref name="ohogain"/> It is suggested that Imbolc originally marked the onset of the [[lambing]] season,<ref name="koch287">Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia''. 2006. p. 287.</ref><ref name="Chadwick1">{{Cite book |last=Chadwick |first=Nora K. |title=The Celts |publisher=Penguin |year=1970 |isbn=978-0-14-021211-2 |location=Harmondsworth |page=181}}</ref> the arrival of fresh [[sheep milk]] after a period of food shortage,<ref name="Patterson"/> and the beginning of preparations for the spring [[sowing]].<ref name="Danaher13">{{harvnb|Danaher|1972|p=13}}</ref> [[Joseph Vendryes]] and [[Christian-Joseph Guyonvarc'h]] suggested that it may have also been a purification festival, similar to the [[Religion in ancient Rome|ancient Roman]] festival [[Lupercalia|''Februa'' or ''Lupercalia'']], which took place at the same time of year.<ref name="Patterson"/><ref>Wright, Brian. ''Brigid: Goddess, Druidess and Saint''. The History Press, 2011. p. 83–85</ref>

Some scholars argue that the date of Imbolc was significant in Ireland since the [[Neolithic Europe|Neolithic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imbolc |url=http://www.newgrange.com/imbolc.htm |access-date=1 June 2011 |website=Newgrange UNESCO World Heritage website}}</ref> A few [[passage tomb]]s in Ireland are aligned with the sunrise around the times of Imbolc and Samhain. This includes the [[Mound of the Hostages]] on the [[Hill of Tara]],<ref>Moriarty, Sean Keir. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270104708_Orthostat_The_Mound_of_the_Hostages "Orthostat: The Mound of the Hostages"]: p. 34</ref> and [[Loughcrew|Cairn L]] at [[Slieve na Calliagh]].<ref>Brennan, Martin. ''The Stones of Time: Calendars, Sundials, and Stone Chambers of Ancient Ireland''. Inner Traditions, 1994. pp. 110–11</ref> Frank Prendergast argues that this alignment is so rare that it is a product of chance.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Prendergast |first=Frank |title=The Archaeology of Height: Cultural Meaning in the Relativity of Irish Megalithic Tomb Siting. |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |year=2021 |editor-last=Gunzburg |editor-first=Darrelyn |location=London, New York, Oxford, New Delhi, Sydne |pages=13–42}}</ref>

Hutton writes that Imbolc must have been "important enough for its date to be dedicated subsequently to [[Brigid of Kildare|Brigid]] … the Mother Saint of Ireland".<ref name="stations" /> [[Cogitosus]], writing in the late 7th century, is the first to mention a feast day of Saint Brigid being observed in [[Kildare]] on 1 February.<ref name="ohogain">Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopedia of the Irish folk tradition''. Prentice-Hall Press, 1991. pp.60–61</ref> Brigid is said to have lived in the 6th century and founded the important monastery of Kildare. She became the focus of a major cult. However, there are few historical facts about her, and her early [[Hagiography|hagiographies]] "are mainly anecdotes and miracle stories, some of which are deeply rooted in Irish pagan folklore".<ref>Farmer, David. ''The Oxford Dictionary of Saints'' (Fifth Edition, Revised). Oxford University Press, 2011. p.66</ref> It is suggested that Saint Brigid is based on the goddess [[Brigid]],<ref name="Mackillop2">{{Cite book |last=MacKillop |first=James |title=Dictionary of Celtic mythology |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-19-280120-3 |page=58}}</ref> or that she was a real person and the lore of the goddess was transferred to her.<ref name="ohogain"/> Like the saint, the goddess is associated with wisdom, poetry, healing, protection, blacksmithing, and domesticated animals, according to ''[[Sanas Cormaic|Cormac's Glossary]]'' and ''[[Lebor Gabála Érenn]]''.<ref name="ohogain" /><ref>Wright, Brian. ''Brigid: Goddess, Druidess and Saint''. The History Press, 2011. pp.26–27</ref> It is suggested that Imbolc, which celebrates the start of lambing, was linked with Brigid in her role as a fertility goddess.<ref name=koch287/> Hutton says that the goddess might have already been linked to Imbolc and this was continued by making it the saint's feast day. Or it could be that Imbolc's association with milk drew the saint to it because of a legend that she had been the wet-nurse of Christ.<ref name="stations" />

Prominent folklorist [[Seán Ó Súilleabháin]] wrote: "The main significance of the Feast of St. Brigid would seem to be that it was a Christianisation of one of the focal points of the agricultural year in Ireland, the starting point of preparations for the spring sowing. Every manifestation of the cult of the saint (or of the deity she replaced) is bound up in some way with food production".<ref name="Danaher13"/>

==Historical customs==
The festival of Imbolc is mentioned in several [[Early Irish literature|early Irish manuscripts]], but they say very little about its original rites and customs.<ref name="stations" /> Imbolc was one of four main seasonal festivals in [[Gaelic Ireland]], along with [[Beltane]] (1 May), [[Lughnasadh]] (1 August) and [[Samhain]] (1 November). The tale ''[[Tochmarc Emire]]'', which survives in a 10th-century version, names ''Imbolc'' as one of four seasonal festivals, and says it is "when the ewes are milked at spring's beginning".<ref name="stations" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wooing of Emer by Cú Chulainn |url=https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T301021.html |website=Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition}}</ref> This linking of Imbolc with the arrival of lambs and sheep's milk probably reflected farming customs that ensured lambs were born before calves. In late winter/early spring, sheep could survive better than cows on the sparse vegetation, and farmers sought to resume milking as soon as possible due to their dwindling stores.<ref name="Patterson"/> The ''Hibernica Minora'' includes an [[Old Irish]] poem about the four seasonal festivals. Translated by [[Kuno Meyer]] (1894), it says, "Tasting of each food according to order, this is what is proper at Imbolc: washing the hands, the feet, the head". This suggests ritual cleansing.<ref name="Patterson" /> As a seasonal festival, the timing of Imbolc might originally have been more fluid and linked to the onset of lambing<ref name="koch287"/> and the blooming of [[blackthorn]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Aveni |first=Anthony F. |title=The Book of the Year: A Brief History of Our Seasonal Holidays |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-19-517154-9 |page=38}}</ref>

From the 18th century to the mid-20th century, many St Brigid's Day traditions were recorded by [[folkloristics|folklorists]] and other writers. They tell us how it was celebrated then and shed light on how it may have been celebrated in the past.<ref name="McNeill-1" /><ref name="Danaher2">{{harvnb|Danaher|1972|pp=200–229}}</ref>

===Brigid's crosses===
[[File:House number, New Bridge Street, Downpatrick, February 2010 (02).JPG|thumb|Brigid's cross above a doorway in [[Downpatrick]].]]
In Ireland, [[Brigid's cross]]es (''pictured'') are traditionally made on St Brigid's Day. A Brigid's cross usually consists of rushes woven into a four-armed equilateral cross, although there were also three-armed crosses.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ó Duinn |first=Seán |title=The Rites of Brigid: Goddess and Saint |date=2005 |publisher=Columba Press |isbn=978-1-85607-483-4 |location=Dublin |page=121}}</ref><ref>[[Emyr Estyn Evans|Evans, Emyr Estyn]]. ''Irish Folk Ways'', 1957. p. 268</ref> They are traditionally hung over doors, windows, and stables to welcome Brigid and for protection against fire, lightning, illness, and evil spirits.<ref name="Danaher22-25" /> The crosses are generally left until the next St Brigid's Day.<ref name=stations/> In western [[Connacht]], people made a ''{{lang|ga|Crios Bríde}}'' ({{lang|ga|Bríd}}'s girdle); a great ring of rushes with a cross woven in the middle. Young boys would carry it around the village, inviting people to step through it and be blessed.<ref name=stations/>

===Welcoming Brigid===
[[File:St. Brigid Painting.jpg|thumb|Painting of Saint Brigid with a bowl of fire, a spindle, and a cow in [[St. Patrick's Chapel, Glastonbury]].]]
On St Brigid's Eve, Brigid was said to visit virtuous households and bless the inhabitants.<ref name="stations" /> As Brigid represented the light half of the year and the power that will bring people from the dark season of winter into spring, her presence was vital at this time of year.<ref name="McNeill">McNeill, F. Marian (1959) ''The Silver Bough'', Vol. 1,2,4. William MacLellan, Glasgow</ref><ref name="Carmina5">{{Cite web |title=Carmina Gadelica Vol. 1: II. Aimsire: Seasons: 70 (notes). Genealogy of Bride. Sloinntireachd Bhride |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/cg1/cg1074.htm |access-date=15 January 2018 |website=Sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

Before going to bed, people would leave items of clothing or strips of cloth outside for Brigid to bless.<ref name="stations" /> The next morning, they would be brought inside and believed to have powers of healing and protection.<ref name="McNeill" /><ref name="Carmina5" />

Brigid would be symbolically invited into the house and a bed would often be made for her. In Ulster, a family member representing Brigid would circle the home three times carrying [[Juncus|rushes]]. They would knock the door three times, asking to be let in. On the third attempt, they are welcomed in, a meal is had, and the rushes are then made into crosses or a bed for Brigid.<ref>{{harvnb|Danaher|1972|pp=20–21, 97–98}}</ref> In 18th-century [[Isle of Man|Mann]], the custom was to stand at the door with a bundle of rushes and say "Brede, Brede, come to my house tonight. Open the door for Brede and let Brede come in". Similarly, in [[County Donegal]], the family member who was sent to fetch the rushes knelt on the front step and repeated three times, "Go on your knees, open your eyes, and let in St Brigid". Those inside the house answered three times, "She's welcome".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ray (2) {{!}} The Schools' Collection |url=https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4493669/4409429 |access-date=13 February 2022 |website=dúchas.ie |language=en}}</ref> The rushes were then strewn on the floor as a carpet or bed for Brigid. In the 19th century, some old Manx women would make a bed for Brigid in the barn with food, ale, and a candle on a table.<ref name="stations" /> The custom of making Brigid's bed was prevalent in the [[Hebrides]] of Scotland, where it was recorded as far back as the 17th century. A bed of hay or a basket-like cradle would be made for Brigid. Someone would then call out three times: "''{{lang|gd|a Bhríd, a Bhríd, thig a stigh as gabh do leabaidh}}''" ("{{lang|gd|Bríd Bríd}}, come in; thy bed is ready").<ref name=stations/> A corn dolly called the ''dealbh Bríde'' (icon of Brigid) would be laid in the bed and a white wand, usually made of birch, would be laid beside it.<ref name=stations/> It represented the wand that Brigid was said to use to make the vegetation start growing again.<ref>Carmichael, ''Carmina Gadelica'', p. 582</ref> Women in some parts of the Hebrides would also dance while holding a large cloth and calling out "''{{lang|gd|Bridean, Bridean, thig an nall 's dean do leabaidh}}''" ("{{lang|gd|Bríd, Bríd}}, come over and make your bed").<ref name=stations/>

In the Outer Hebrides, ashes from the fire would be raked smooth, and, in the morning, people would look for some mark on the ashes as a sign that Brigid had visited.<ref name="stations" /><ref name="monaghan256">Monaghan, Patricia. ''The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore''. Infobase Publishing, 2004. p. 256.</ref> If there was no mark, they believed bad fortune would come unless they [[Animal sacrifice|buried a cockerel]] at the meeting of three streams as an offering and burned incense on their fire that night.<ref name=stations/>

===Brigid's procession===
In Ireland and Scotland, a representation of Brigid would be paraded around the community by girls and young women. Usually, it was a doll known as a ''{{lang|ga|Brídeóg}}'' ('little Brigid'), called a 'Breedhoge' or 'Biddy' in English. It would be made from [[Juncus|rushes]] or [[reed (plant)|reeds]] and clad in bits of cloth, flowers, or shells.<ref name="stations" /><ref name="monaghan256" /> In the Hebrides of Scotland, a bright shell or crystal called the ''{{lang|gd|reul-iuil Bríde}}'' (guiding star of Brigid) was set on its chest. The girls would carry it in procession while singing a hymn to Brigid. All wore white with their hair unbound as a symbol of purity and youth. They visited every house in the area, where they received either food or more decoration for the {{lang|gd|Brídeóg}}. Afterward, they feasted in a house with the {{lang|gd|Brídeóg}} set in a place of honour, and put it to bed with lullabies. When the meal was done, the local young men humbly asked for admission, made obeisance to the {{lang|gd|Brídeóg}}, and joined the girls in dancing and merrymaking.<ref name="stations" /> In many places, only unwed girls could carry the {{lang|gd|Brídeóg}}, but in some both boys and girls carried it.<ref>Monaghan, p. 58.</ref>

In parts of Ireland, rather than carrying a {{lang|gd|Brídeóg}}, a girl took on the role of Brigid. Escorted by other girls, she went house-to-house wearing 'Brigid's crown' and carrying 'Brigid's shield' and 'Brigid's cross', all made from rushes.<ref name="Danaher22-25">{{harvnb|Danaher|1972|pp=22–25}}</ref> The procession in some places included 'strawboys', who wore conical straw hats, masks and played folk music; much like the [[Wren Day|wrenboys]].<ref name="Danaher22-25" /> Up until the mid-20th century, children in Ireland still went house-to-house asking for pennies for "poor Biddy", or money for the poor. In [[County Kerry]], men in white robes sang from house to house.<ref>Monaghan, p. 44.</ref>

===Weather lore===
[[File:Snowdrop.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Snowdrops in the snow]]
The festival is traditionally associated with [[weather lore]], and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens may be a forerunner of the North American [[Groundhog Day]]. A Scottish Gaelic proverb about the day is:
{{Verse translation|{{lang|gd|Thig an nathair as an toll
Là donn Brìde,
Ged robh trì troighean dhen t-sneachd
Air leac an làir.}}
|The serpent will come from the hole
On the brown Day of Bríde,
Though there should be three feet of snow
On the flat surface of the ground.<ref name="Carmina1">Carmichael, Alexander (1900) ''Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations, Ortha Nan Gaidheal, Volume I'', p.&nbsp;169 [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/cg1/cg1074.htm The Sacred Texts Archive]</ref>}}

Imbolc was believed to be when the [[Cailleach]]—the divine [[hag]] of Gaelic tradition—gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she wishes to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny so that she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people would be relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over.<ref name="Briggs2">Briggs, Katharine (1976) ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies''. New York, Pantheon Books., pp.&nbsp;57–60</ref> At Imbolc on the Isle of Man, where she is known as ''{{lang|gv|Caillagh ny Groamagh}}'', the Cailleach is said to take the form of a gigantic bird carrying sticks in her beak.<ref name="Briggs2" />

===Other customs===
Families would have a special meal or supper on St Brigid's Eve to mark the last night of winter.<ref name="stations" /> This typically included food such as [[colcannon]], [[sowans]], [[dumpling]]s, [[barmbrack]] or [[Bannock (British food)|bannocks]].<ref name="danaher15" /> Often, some of the food and drink would be set aside for Brigid.<ref name="stations" />

In Ireland, a [[spring cleaning]] was customary around St Brigid's Day.<ref name="danaher15"/>

People traditionally visit [[holy well]]s and pray for health while walking '[[sunwise]]' around the well. They might then leave offerings, typically coins or strips of cloth/ribbon (see [[clootie well]]). Historically, water from the well was used to bless the home, family members, livestock, and fields.<ref name="danaher15">{{harvnb|Danaher|1972|p=15}}</ref><ref>Monaghan, p. 41.</ref>

Scottish writer [[Donald Alexander Mackenzie]] also recorded in the 19th century that offerings were made "to earth and sea". The offering could be milk poured into the ground or porridge poured into the water as a [[libation]].<ref>Mackenzie, Donald. ''Wonder Tales from Scottish Myth and Legend'' (1917). p. 19.</ref>

In [[County Kilkenny]], graves were decorated with box and laurel flowers (or any other flowers that could be found at that time). A Branch of Virginity was decorated with white ribbons and placed on the grave of a recently deceased maiden.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scoil na mBráthar, Calainn {{!}} The Schools' Collection |url=https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4758529/4752101 |access-date=13 February 2022 |website=dúchas.ie |language=en}}</ref>

==Present day customs==
[[File:Making crosses at St Brigids Well.JPG|thumb|250px|People making ''Brigid's crosses'' at St Brigid's Well near [[Liscannor]].]]
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name  = Saint Brigid's Day/Imbolc<br/>public holiday
| type          = National
| image         = 
| imagesize     = 
| caption       = 
| official_name = 
| nickname      = 
| observedby    = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| litcolor      = 
| longtype      = 
| significance  = 
| begins        = 
| ends          = 
| week_ordinal  = first
| weekday       = Monday
| month         = February
| celebrations  = 
| observances   = 
| relatedto     = 
| duration      = 1 day
| frequency     = Annual
| firsttime     = 2023
| date2022      = 
}}

St Brigid's Day and Imbolc are observed by Christians and non-Christians. Some people still make Brigid's crosses and {{lang|ga|Brídeog}}s or visit holy wells dedicated to St Brigid on 1 February.<ref>Monaghan, p. 60.</ref> Brigid's Day parades have been revived in the town of [[Killorglin]], [[County Kerry]], which holds a yearly "Biddy's Day Festival". Men and women wearing elaborate straw hats and masks visit public houses carrying a {{lang|ga|Brídeóg}} to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the coming year. There are folk music sessions, historical talks, film screenings, drama productions, and cross-weaving workshops. The main event is a torchlight parade of 'Biddy groups' through the town.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biddy spirit alive and well in Kerry |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/entertainment/biddy-spirit-alive-and-well-in-kerry-36523447.html |work=[[The Kerryman]] |date=27 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Three years on, Biddy's Day Festival still going from strength to strength |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/entertainment/three-years-on-biddys-day-festival-still-going-from-strength-to-strength-37763340.html |work=[[The Kerryman]] |date=2 February 2019}}</ref> Since 2009 a yearly "Brigid of Faughart Festival" is held in [[County Louth]]. This celebrates Brigid as both saint and goddess and includes the long-standing pilgrimage to [[Faughart]] as well as music, poetry, and lectures.<ref>{{cite news |title=Events planned for Brigid of Faughart Festival |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/news/events-planned-for-brigid-of-faughart-festival-41274598.html |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=24 January 2022}}</ref> The "Imbolc International Music Festival" of folk music is held in [[Derry]] at this time of year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Music returns to Derry air with the Imbolc International Music Festival |url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2022/01/07/news/trad-music-returns-to-derry-air-with-the-imbolc-international-music-festival-2553631/ |work=[[The Irish News]] |date=7 January 2022}}</ref> In England, the village of [[Marsden, West Yorkshire]] holds a biennial "Imbolc Fire Festival" which includes a lantern procession, fire performers, music, fireworks, and a symbolic battle between giant characters representing the [[Green Man]] and [[Jack Frost]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Everything you need to know about Marsden's Imbolc Fire Festival |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/marsdens-imbolc-fire-festival-light-14190951 |work=[[Huddersfield Daily Examiner]] |date=23 January 2018}}</ref>

More recently, [[List of diplomatic missions of Ireland|Irish embassies]] have hosted yearly events on St Brigid's Day to celebrate famous women of the [[Irish diaspora]] and showcase the work of Irish female emigrants in the arts.<ref>{{cite news |title=St Brigid's Day: Irish women to be celebrated around the world |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/st-brigid-s-day-irish-women-to-be-celebrated-around-the-world-1.3777791 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=31 January 2019}}</ref> In 2022, Dublin hosted its first "Brigit Festival", celebrating "the contributions of Irish women" past and present through exhibitions, tours, lectures, films, and a concert.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dublin to host St Brigid's Day events, celebrating the original Brigit |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/dublin-to-host-st-brigid-s-day-events-celebrating-the-original-brigit-1.4789324 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=30 January 2022}}</ref>

In 2016, the [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party]] proposed that St Brigid's Day be made a [[public holiday in the Republic of Ireland|public holiday in Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/green-party-proposes-making-st-brigids-day-a-public-holiday-567040 | title=Green Party proposes making St Brigid's Day a public holiday }}</ref> This was put into effect in 2022 after the party entered government, and "Imbolc/St Brigid's Day" has been a yearly public holiday since 2023 to mark both the saint's feast day and the seasonal festival.<ref name="public holiday"/> A government statement noted that it would be the first Irish public holiday named after a woman, and "means that all four of the traditional Celtic seasonal festival will now be public holidays". The public holiday is observed on the first Monday of February, except for years where 1 February happens to fall on a Friday, in which case the holiday is observed on that Friday instead.<ref name="public holiday"/>

===Neopaganism===
[[File:Imbolc Festival February 3rd 2007.jpg|thumb|250px|Imbolc Festival in [[Marsden, West Yorkshire]], 2007]]
Imbolc or Imbolc-based festivals are observed by some [[Neopaganism|Neopagans]], though practices vary widely. While some attempt to closely emulate the historic accounts of Imbolc, others rely on many sources to inspire their celebrations.<ref name="Adler1">Adler, Margot (1979) ''Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today''. Boston, Beacon Press {{ISBN|978-0-8070-3237-4}}. p.&nbsp;3</ref><ref>McColman, Carl (2003) ''Complete Idiot's Guide to Celtic Wisdom''. Alpha Press {{ISBN|978-0-02-864417-2}}. p.&nbsp;51</ref> Festivals typically fall near 1 February in the Northern Hemisphere and 1 August in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Drury |first=Nevill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwzttsI9-NwC&q=nevill+drury |title=Handbook of Contemporary Paganism |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-90-04-16373-7 |editor-last=Pizza |editor-first=Murphy |location=[[Leiden]], [[Netherlands]] |pages=63–67 |chapter=The Modern Magical Revival: Esbats and Sabbats |editor-last2=Lewis |editor-first2=James R}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hume |first=Lynne |title=Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia |publisher=Melbourne University Press |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-522-84782-6 |location=Melbourne}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Vos |first=Donna |title=Dancing Under an African Moon: Paganism and Wicca in South Africa |publisher=Zebra Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-86872-653-0 |location=Cape Town |pages=79–86}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bodsworth |first=Roxanne T |title=Sunwyse: Celebrating the Sacred Wheel of the Year in Australia |publisher=Hihorse Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-909223-03-8 |location=Victoria, Australia}}</ref>

Some Neopagans celebrate the festival at the astronomical midpoint between the [[winter solstice]] and spring [[equinox]] — in the Northern Hemisphere, this is usually on 3 or 4 February — while others rely on the full moon nearest this point.<ref>{{Cite web |title=archaeoastronomy.com explains the reason we have seasons |url=http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/seasons.html |access-date=15 January 2018 |website=Archaeoastronomy.com |archive-date=23 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123062729/http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/seasons.html |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Some Neopagans designate Imbolc based on other natural phenomena, such as the emergence of primroses, dandelions, or similar local flora.<ref name="Bonewits184-5">Bonewits, Isaac (2006) ''Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism''. New York, Kensington Publishing Group {{ISBN|978-0-8065-2710-9}}. pp.&nbsp;184–5</ref>

====Celtic Reconstructionist====
[[Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism|Celtic Reconstructionists]] strive to reconstruct [[ancient Celtic religion]]. Their religious practices are based on research and historical accounts,<ref name="McColman">McColman, Carl (2003) p.&nbsp;12</ref><ref name="Bonewits130-7">Bonewits (2006) pp.&nbsp;130–7</ref> but may be modified slightly to suit modern life. They avoid [[syncretism]] (i.e., combining practises from different cultures). They usually celebrate the festival at the start of spring, or on the full moon nearest this. Many use traditional songs and rites from sources such as ''The Silver Bough'' and ''The Carmina Gadelica''. It is a time of honouring the goddess Brigid, and many of her dedicants choose this time of year for rituals to her.<ref name="McColman" /><ref name="Bonewits130-7" />

====Wicca and Neo-Druidry====
[[Wiccans]] and [[Neo-Druidry|Neo-Druids]] celebrate Imbolc as one of the eight Sabbats in their [[Wheel of the Year]], following Midwinter and preceding [[Ostara]]. In Wicca, Imbolc is commonly associated with the goddess Brigid; as such, it is sometimes seen as a "women's holiday" with specific rites only for female members of a [[coven]].<ref>Gallagher, Ann-Marie (2005). ''The Wicca Bible: The Definitive Guide to Magic and the Craft''. London: Godsfield Press. p. 63.</ref> Among [[Dianic Wicca]]ns, Imbolc is the traditional time for [[initiation]]s.<ref name="Budapest">Budapest, Zsuzsanna (1980). ''The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries''. {{ISBN|978-0-914728-67-2}}.</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Holidays}}
* [[Candlemas]]
* {{lang|gd|[[Faoilleach]]}}
* [[Irish calendar]]
* [[Lichun|Lìchūn]] (立春)
* [[Quarter days]]
* [[Vasant Panchami]]
* [[Wheel of the Year]] (Cross-Quarter days)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last1=Danaher |first1=Kevin |author-link=Kevin Danaher |date=1972 |title=The Year in Ireland: Irish Calendar Customs |location=Cork |publisher=Mercier Press |page=38 |isbn=978-1-85635-093-8}}

==Further reading==
* [[Carmina Gadelica|Carmichael, Alexander]] (1992). ''Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations'' (with illustrative notes onwards, rites, and customs dying and obsolete/ orally collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland). Hudson, NY: Lindisfarne Press. {{ISBN|978-0-940262-50-8}}.
* Chadwick, Nora (1970). ''The Celts''. London: Penguin. {{ISBN|978-0-14-021211-2}}.
* [[F. Marian McNeill|McNeill, F. Marian]] (1959). ''The Silver Bough'', Vol.&nbsp;1–4. Glasgow: William MacLellan.
* Ó Catháin, Séamas (1995). ''Festival of Brigit''.

== External links ==
* {{Wiktionary inline|Imbolc}}

{{Celts|state=collapsed}}
{{Celtic mythology topics}}
{{Wheel of the Year}}
{{Contemporary_witchcraft}}
{{Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland}}
{{Ireland topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:August observances]]
[[Category:Christianity and paganism]]
[[Category:Cross-quarter days]]
[[Category:February observances]]
[[Category:Gaelic culture]]
[[Category:Holidays in Scotland]]
[[Category:Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Irish mythology]]
[[Category:Modern pagan holidays]]
[[Category:Scottish mythology]]
[[Category:Winter holidays (Northern Hemisphere)]]
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