Apparently today is Saint Brigid’s Day, also known as Imbolc or Imbolg, a traditional Gaelic festival that marks the beginning of spring, half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s one of four seasonal Gaelic festivals: Beltane - May Day, 1st May, Lughnasadh - 1st August beginning of harvest season - aka Lammas in England, Samhain 1st November - All Saints Day.
Sources tell me that Saint Brigid is the patroness saint of Ireland. Now I knew about Saint Patrick, patron saint, but I was unaware that there was also a patroness saint. Do all countries have a patroness saint? Feminists should be demanding that bit of equality.
In fact Ireland has three patron Saints, the third being Saint Columba, who has hid Day on June 9th, born in County Donegal in the 5th Century and said to be descended from great Irish nobility.
Other sources say that in fact she was an ancient pagan goddess and that, like many pagan personalities and events, was subsumed into the Christian tradition. Anyway, she is also the patroness saint of healers, poets, blacksmiths, livestock and dairy workers, among others. Busy lady! And she has her own cross, traditionally made from plaited rushes. If you make one and hang it outside your door, your house will be protected from fire, illness, and hardship for the year ahead. It’s not clear if it works outside Ireland. Maybe it works for the Irish diaspora.
Another way to get Brigid’s blessing is to leave items of clothing, such as maybe a scarf, outside the house on Saint Brigid’s Eve. Brigid is supposed to walk around Ireland blessing these cloths or pieces of clothing so that they can be used to help the healing process. Once again I wonder if Brigid manages to bless the Irish of the diaspora. Does she have Santa”s magic to travel all around the world in one night?
In the strangely hostile world we live in at the moment maybe we all need Brigid to give us her blessing.
Here’s a report about Gaza:
“Israel has carried out some of its deadliest airstrikes on Gaza in months, killing at least 30 Palestinians, some of whom were sheltering in tent cities for displaced people.
Despite a nominal ceasefire, the Israeli military struck a police station in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood west of Gaza City on Saturday, killing 10 officers and detainees, the civil defence said. It indicated the death toll could rise as emergency responders searched for bodies.
Another strike hit an apartment in Gaza City, killing three children and two women, while seven more people were killed when Israel bombed tents in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.”
There was a large pro-Palestine demonstration in London yesterday.
Demonstrations are taking place in various parts of the USA calling for the end of ICE.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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