St Brigid's Feast Day

Subject: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 29 Jan 00 - 11:59 PM

Greetings for the occasion, 1 Feb. Like Groundhog Day, an occasion to mark the beginning of spring. You can find the song "Gabhaim Molta Bríde" at Áine's website


Another song is Rob Henderson's Offering to Bríd, Imbolc 1998
Bríd is the Irish name of the saint and Imbolc is the name of the older pagan festival.

Bríd was a 6th century Abbess of Kildare, an important figure in her time. My favourite story about her is that she sold her father's sword to get funds for food for the poor. It's said some of the legends of Bríd/Brigid/Bridget are mixed up with stories of a pagan fertility goddess. We still celebrate the feast day by making a special "Saint Brigid's Cross" out of rushes.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,me again
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 12:10 AM

More links:
Brigid and Kildare
St Brigid's Cross
St Brigid's cross(good picture plus info)
even more about Brigid

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 04:17 AM

Another example of the church nabbing a pagan festival and filing the serial numbers off - so few people actually celebrate Candlemass these days, but it means that Christmas has ended and we'd better get ready for Lent!

LTS

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 06:43 AM

Lá Féile Bhríde - St Bríd's day - is February 1, when we pull fresh rushes to plait a Crois Bhríde or St Bridgit's Cross.

Another of her good scams was to ask the local chieftain for only as much land as her cloak could cover, to build a monastery, and then to spread out her cloak miraculously so that it covered the whole of Kildare. Good woman.

She is the patron saint of dairying, and is said to have been noted for the excellence of her cheeses, butter, milk products generally, and beer.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Micca
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 07:38 AM

JTT, tuck your cloak in. I think, especially in the last paragraph, your fertility Godess is showing!!! **BG** she is also associated with many of the healing wells that are certainly pre-christian. you still find votive pfferings attached to trees overhanging the wells.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Áine
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 09:31 AM

Here's a short cut to Gabhaim Molta Bríde on my site.

Here in North Texas, we don't have any rushes that are convenient, so we make our Bridget's crosses out of green hay or a weird looking plant called 'monkey grass', which has long, thin green fronds perfect for bending.

-- Áine

Subject: Lyr Add: HARVEST OF THE MOON (Steeleye Span)
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:52 AM

Check out the Steeleye Span lyrics for the Song Harvest of the Moon, gotta be one of the best dancing songs ever..

Then Bridget she declared
That she was not prepared
To watch us dance to the tune of Elsie Marley
She said I'll sing you all a song
And you'll want to sing along
If you listen to the wind that shakes the barley

And the song that she sang
could be heard for miles around
The air was full of harmony
You should have heard the sound
As we gathered up our differences
And threw them in the ai
And gave them to the wind that shakes the barley

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 04:37 PM

Fixing tributes to trees over water is a beautiful way of saying thankyou to a deity for the gifts of water and such, and continues today in the tradition of well dressing. In recent years, our local council has started holding tree dressing days, where trees in the local parks are dressed, a custom done by several of the Indian religions as well.

All I need now is a decent well, although I do have a friend who has one just outside his back door....

LTS

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Peg
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 10:36 AM

Hi all;

for a witch's perspective on some of this...

http://www.witchvox.com/holidays/imbolc/imbolchistory.html

(sorry can't figure out the blue clicky thing...)

enjoy!

peg

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 10:48 AM

What a wonderful thread! My main page of Brigid is: http://www.toad.net/~sticker/thesaint.html

I am about to put out the second and huge addition of my Brigid reference book- Brigid of the Gael watch this space or write me in about a month. [e-mail] We also sell hand made brigids crosses- made from rushes.

Saint Brigid a.k.a. The Mary of the Gael

To The Main St. Briget Page
 

Her day: February 1 First Day of Spring -New Year's day for the Farmers
the beginning of Imbolc: Season of light (alternate spellings- Brighid, Brigid)
Brigid means Fiery Arrow
She is patroness of cattle and of dairy work-ale.

 1. A day to look for weather signs-a hedgehog a good weather sign if he stays out of his burrow.

 2. Do only essential work on the day and go to the local shrine to pray.

 3. Take stock of the household supplies-will it last till harvest?

 4. Clean the house.

 5. Make a special dinner for St. Brighids Eve.

 6. Make a Bairin-breac-yeast cake with fruit (aka barm brack) for the eve and invite the neighbors in.

 7. Make fresh butter - Brigid is closely associated with the dairy.

 8. A day for the wealthy to give food to the poor.

 9. St. Brigid traveled the countryside, blessing households, with her white red-eared cow.

 10. You need to show her welcome: place bread and fresh butter on the window sill outside, also put out a sheaf of corn for the cow, put out rushes for her to kneel on to bless the
household, set the table in the kitchen on the eve.

 11. Make the cros Bride or bogha Bride (St. Brigids Cross). These crosses are made of rushes-but vary in materials and somewhat in design from region to region (main page for cross
link).

 12.The cross should be hung in the thatch roof of the house or above the door, and if you dont have a roof-apartment-on the inside of the front door.

 13. Cross material should be blessed.Crosses are left in place for a full year to be renewed on the day.

 14. A large oat bread cake, a Strone,Strohn, or Brigid's Bread (See main page food links)  in the shape of a wheat sheaf or cross is made, blessed by the priest and eaten.

 15. Often a door ceremony is held with a person, usually the eldest daughter, representing the saint knocking and asking to be let in. She says - Go on your knees, open your eyes, and
let Brighid in. Answered by from within: Greeting,greeting to the noble woman.

 16.After perhaps Mary, Brigid is the most common name for girls in Ireland - it is shortened to Bridie (pronounced bri dee). (Bride in English however comes from the German; although
many think otherwise, the linguists insist on a German root.)

 17. On the eve the Bridie Boys go out with an effigy of the saint called the Brideog - a doll dressed in white. They pick up the offerings of bread and of butter left out. (In some areas the
Brideog was the most pure girl of the village.)

 18. A piece of white cloth is hung outside the front door.

 19.Those coming around would say something like this: Something for poor Biddy! Her clothes are torn
Her shoes are worn
Something for poor Biddy

or Here is Briget dressed in white
Give her a penny for her night
She is deaf, she is dumb
She cannot talk without a tongue.
or Here comes Brigid dressed in white
Giver her something for the night
She is deaf, she is dumb
For Gods sake give her some.

 20. A silk ribbon is left out for the Saint to bless; it is used to cure illness. It is called the ribin Brighid - St.Brigids Ribbon. 21. To say over the cross:

 Brighids Girdle is my girdle,
The Girdle with the four crosses.
Arise housewife
And go out three times.
May whoever goes through my girdle
Be seven times better a year from now

. 22.The leftover materials from the cross were used to bless the animals as bedding and feed.

 23. On St Brigids day the lark was a good omen of Spring.

 24. The dandelion is spoken of as Brigids Flower.

 25. Hoar frost(thick frost) gathered specially on the day can be used to cure headache.

 26. There are many wells dedicated to the saint from which water is drawn and used for blessings on the day.

 27. Brigid is famous for brewing ale and for distributing it -so ale is a part of the celebration

 28.The farm animals should be especially well taken care of on the day.

Subject: Lyr Add: HARVEST OF THE MOON (Steeleye Span)
From: Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 11:06 AM

Full lyrics to Harvest the Moon

All the husbands and the wives
We were dancing for our lives
All to the tune of Elsie Marley
Instead of gathering up our differences
And throwing them in the air
And giving them to the wind that shakes the barley

And the children they were watching
Every girl and every boy
As we danced to the tune of Elsie Marley
But they'd heard another tune
From the harvest of the moon
That rides upon the wind that shakes the barley

The Bridget she declared
That she was not prepared
To watch us dance to the tune of Elsie Marley
She said I'll sing you all a song
And you'll want to sing along
If you listen to the wind that shakes the barley

And the song that she sang
Could be heard for miles around
The air was full of harmony
You should have heard the sound
As we gathered up our differences
And threw them in the air
And gave them to the wind that shakes the barley

All the husbands and the wives
We were dancing for our lives
All to the tune of Elsie Marley
Until we gathered up our differences
And threw them in the air
And gave them to the wind that shakes the barley

Then all of us declared
That we were not prepared
To dance our lives away with Elsie Marley
For we'd heard another tune
From the harvest of the moon
That rides upon the wind that shakes the barley

And the song that we sang
Could be heard for miles around
The air was full of harmony
You should have heard the sound
As we gathered up our differences
And threw them in the air
And gave them to the wind that shakes the barley

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Mían
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 07:25 PM

This a celebration of change - of winter into spring, the old hag into the young maiden - another turn of the wheel...

mían

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 09:13 AM

Just a quick note to say you should never SELL St. Brigid's Crosses, they must be given.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Áine
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 09:18 AM

Dear GUEST,

Maybe you should tell Bord Fáilte about that!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Frank Maher
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 02:58 PM

Today would have been My Mother's 91st Birthday Her name was (Bridget Maher)...This is My First St.Bridget's Day Without Her....She Died last August..So this Day will have a bit of Sadness for Me,but I know She's in Good Hands!!!!!

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Callie
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 09:13 PM

Wow! Thanks for all the fascinating info. I was taught by Brigidine nuns for 12 years, but we never knew a thing about Brigid, either the Saint or the Goddess. Our school crest had the St B cross on it, and our school song went something like:

Far above enthroned in glory
Sweetest saint of Erin's isle
See thy children kneel before thee,
Turn on us a mother's smile

Sweet St Brigid, Erin's children
Far and near on land and sea
Mid the world and in the cloister
Fondly turn with love to thee

Sweet St Brigid soothe the mourner
Shield the weary tempted soul
Sweet St Brigid guide thy children
To their bright and happy home.

There was also a verse about St B being the 'spouse of Jesus' but it has (thankfully!) eluded me! I wish we'd been taught the Steeleye Span song instead!

Callie

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 26-Apr-02.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 11:16 AM

Hello again. I found an interesting article on-line in pdf format:Brigit the Holy Woman by Séamus Ó Catháin of the Dept of Folklore at University College Dublin.
You may think this an odd timne of year to bring up Lá Fhéile Bhríde, but Ó Catháin (quoting Máire Mac Neill) discusses links with the summer festival of Lughnasa (or Lúnasa)

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 11:51 AM

Red-eared white cows were a theme in a lot of the old Irish stories, usually with a magical resonance. I read recently in a book about ancient Irish farming that there was still a herd of these in Northumberland in England, somewhere called Chillingsomething - Chillinghurst? Chillingford?

I wonder if they were slaughtered during the British Government's recent outbreak of Mad Cow Slaughtering Disease, during last year's foot-and-mouth? Anyone know?

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 08:05 PM

Chillingham, I think. Anyone know?

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: ard mhacha
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 03:39 PM

They escaped, they ain`t chilling anywhere.aRD mHACHA.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 05:41 AM

There's a lot of reading in Séamus OC's article, Philippa, thanks for highlighting it.

Through being asked to play at events here in Belgium, I've discovered that there is a tradition of devotion to St Brigid in parts of both the Flemish and the French-speaking regions. A few weeks ago, a group of us played at the inauguration of a replica of a monastic cell in Fosses-la-Ville, where St Faolán established the first Irish monastic settlement in what later became Belgium. They had a local tradition of blessing hazel switches with which are the farmer would rub his cattle and which were kept in the byre.

We were also asked to play a few years ago for the inauguration of a set of vestments in the rural parish of Oostnieuwkerke, near Ypres. This parish also had a long-established tradition of devotion to St Brigid. The whole event was like being beamed back to the rural Ireland of the 1950s, with confraternity banners, local politicians and farming organisations all taking part.

Of course the cynic could claim that a lot of this devotion is due to Brigid's position as de facto patron saint of the European Community's common agricultural policy, given her reputation for promoting surplus beef and dairy product production.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Felipa
Date: 27 Jan 03 - 05:25 PM

Refreshing this now so you have a bit of time to prepare and don't get caught out like you did on Burns Night. This year the challenge is to celebrate St Brigid's day and Chinese new year together.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,Castlebay
Date: 27 Jan 03 - 11:21 PM

Here's a new one Brigit's Song
©2002 Fred Gosbee

As the winter days grow longer and the sun starts getting stronger
Then the bear will wake to sniff the wind and leave his cozy den.
When Orien starts to go it is then that you will know
That soon it will be Brigit's Day again.

Let your fire die down, clean the hearth and sweep the stone
Clear the darkness of the winter from your heart and soul
Spring's around the corner, she will soon be here again
And Bridget is here to rekindle the flame

This season is a blessing, it's the time of year for resting
Most thankful is the mother with a new babe at her breast
In just a few short weeks comes the time of sowing seeds
Then months of work until the time for harvest

At his forge the blacksmith stands, with the skill that he commands-
Transforming iron ingots into tools of strength and grace
In his hand the hammer rings, in his heart he hears her sing
A joyful song which helps him know his place

Many people in these days from the earth have been estranged
In their cities and their suburbs natures cycles are ignored
But the healing will begin if they only turn within
And listen in their hearts for Brigit's word

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,castlebay
Date: 27 Jan 03 - 11:24 PM

We are doing a Brigid's Day concert in Portland Maine on Sunday Feb 2 at 3pm at the St Lawrence Arts Center 76 Congress St
e-mail me at [e-mail] for more info
best- Julia Lane

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 11:13 AM

You guys, the average monthly (Fahrenheit) temperatures for Dublin, which I chose as a likely Irish city, are as follows:

Jan 46 37 2.70 (precip. in inches)
Feb 46 37 2.00
Mar 49 38 2.10

So how can you say that Feb 1 has anything to do with spring? May 1st is probably more like it.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 12:47 PM

Isn't St Brigid the Patron Saint of us Blacksmiths too.
JohnB

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 12:55 PM

Guest,JohnB: according to "The Wordsworth Dictionary of saints" Brigid (Bride) is the patron saint of: Ireland(after Patrick), poets, blacksmiths, healers, cattle, dairymaids, midwives, newborn babies & fugutives.

Nigel

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: *daylia*
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 01:00 PM

GUEST JohnB - In my research I've found that before her 'adoption' by the Catholic Church, "Saint Brigid" was revered as the Triple Goddess of Fire (of the hearth and the blacksmith's forge), of Healing and of Inspiration (especially poetry and music!). So it makes sense she's still honoured as the Patron Saint of Blacksmiths.

One story I've heard is that 'She' invented whistling, as a means of calling her friends!

Happy Candlemas - (Groundhog's Day in Canada!)

daylia

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 01:09 PM

From the Women's Early Music Webring:

St. Birgitta of Sweden
http://music.acu.edu/www/iawm/pages/brigit.html

Early Music for The Celtic Goddess Brigid
http://music.acu.edu/www/iawm/pages/reference/celtic.html

Brigid's Place, Women's outreach ministry of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston
http://www.brigidsplace.org/welcome.htm

Take the Pilgrimmage Plunge! Visit the source!
http://www.spiritualsanctuary.com/ireland_pilgrimage.htm

Join Celtic Women International here
http://www.celticwomen.org/

What better way to honor Brid? Donate!
http://www.heifer.org/about_hpi/links.htm

Brigid of the Songs by Padraic Pearse
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AWriters/Pearse.html

And instructions on how to make a Brigid's Cross
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/MakingBrigdXs.html

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 01:10 PM

St. Brigids Oaten Bread
1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, 3/4 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt., 3 tablespoons butter in small pieces, 3/4 cup uncooked oatmeal flakes. 1 egg, 1/2 cup buttermilk
1.heat oven to 425 degrees. 2. grease baking sheet. 3.combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in bowl and mix. 4.Add butter bits and cut in with knife until mixture is crumbly. 5.add oats and toss to combine. 6.in other bowl beat egg with buttermilk. 7.make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour in the egg mixture and mix with a fork until crumbs hold together. Make dough into ball and transfer to floured surface. Knead 20-25 times. Add flour if sticky.
8.pat dough into 8-inch round and transfer to baking sheet. 9.score a deep cross into the bread but do not cut it through 10.bake 15-20 minutes till brown.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Grab
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 01:58 PM

My sincere apologies to St Brigid, for having misread that as "St Frigid's Beast Day"...

Grab.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,maire-aine
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 02:19 PM

But it is frigid. It's -8 C in the mid-US.

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Felipa
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 04:07 PM

well, it isn't spring in Ireland yet but the days do start getting noticibly longer and you can see sproutings, snowdrops bloom and crocus about to

I wonder if AFRI (action from Ireland, development education group)has a website. They fund raise with St Brigid's crosses

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 09:46 PM

Another fine way to celebrate the day is to make a donation to the Friends of the Irish Traditional Music Archive here:

http://www.itma.ie/home/Bo&Sc.htm

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 11:32 PM

This link is to the Tocher Sound Archive, and is described as "St. Bride - an apocryphal legend developed from earlier traditions of the Irish saints Brigit and Ide"

The sound file is in Gaelic, but it has a nice English translation with it.

http://www.pearl.arts.ed.ac.uk/Tocher/Vol-39/39-110/39-110fr.html

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Felipa
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 02:13 PM

or, if you are so-minded, you could send a message of support to: Campa Síothchána na mBan / Women's Peace Camp
      Aerphort na Sionainne / Shannon Airport / Warport
       Co. Luimnigh /Co. Limerick
         Éire/Ireland

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Felipa
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 03:07 PM

or if you are a woman and are anywhere near Belfast, you might be able to attend the Brigit's Cloak weekend at St. Clements Retreat Centre. See www.instituteforfeminismandreligion.org "At this time of winter's mystical darkness and the magical light of spring, our aim is to provide a safe tent for every woman to weave a shawl of protection, a veil of mystery, a mantle of hope, a cloak of courage."

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 05:47 PM

That time of the year again.....

My extensive Brigid Web pages are now here:
To Brigid

You will also find links to my publications concerning Brigid.
My book Brigid of the Gael is the most complete collection of material since the 7th century. It includes- crosses, celebration, ritual, recipes, songs, poems, ancient stories and on it goes....

My small booklet for children is very popular. It is called
The Good Saint Brigid of Kildare.

You can purchase them from amazon but amazon wants 55% profit for themselves so they are more expensive.

Here is the brigid book page:

Brigid books

Enjoy!

Conrad

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 06:35 PM

inniu - today!

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: SussexCarole
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 06:52 PM

One of my happiest memories is of a trip to Ireland and a visit to St Brigids Well in county Clare. I sat around a coal fire in the bar next to St Brigid's well with five women named Brigid who had come to pay homage to their patron saint. I had no idea that I had visited on St Brigid's day... a magical moment & such wonderful people..we shared stories, memories and Guinness!

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: open mike
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 09:51 PM

i just went out in the mist and rain to pick (cut) some reeds/rushes/grass to weave crosses with! I feel connected
with centuries of folks who remembered St. Brigid this way!

Subject: RE: St Brigid's Feast Day
From: Felipa
Date: 31 Jan 22 - 05:23 PM

It's time to refresh this thread
The words to Gabhaim Molta Bríde can be found at https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=142413#3680006