Imbolc facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Imbolc / Brigid's Day
Brigid's cross
Also called	Lá Fhéile Bríde (Irish) Là Fhèill Brìghde (Scottish Gaelic) Laa'l Breeshey (Manx)
Observed by	Historically: Gaels Today: Irish people, Scottish people, Manx people, Modern Pagans
Type	Cultural, Christian (Roman Catholic, Anglican), Pagan (Celtic neopaganism, Wicca)
Significance	beginning of spring, feast day of Saint Brigid
Celebrations	feasting, making Brigid's crosses and Brídeógs, visiting holy wells, spring cleaning, church services
Date	1 February (or 1 August for some Neopagans in the S. Hemisphere)
Related to	Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau, Candlemas, Groundhog Day

Imbolc, also known as Saint Brigid's Day, is a special traditional festival. It is celebrated on February 1st, mainly in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. This day marks the official start of spring! For Christians, it is also the feast day of Saint Brigid, who is a patron saint of Ireland. Imbolc is one of four important Gaelic festivals that mark the changing seasons. It happens about halfway between the shortest day of winter (winter solstice) and the day when spring officially begins (spring equinox).

Ancient Irish writings mention Imbolc. Many historians believe it started as an older, non-Christian festival. It was linked to the time when lambs are born and spring begins. Some think it was connected to a goddess named Brigid. Later, Saint Brigid became important, and her feast day was set on February 1st. Over time, many traditions grew around this day. People made special crosses from rushes, called Brigid's crosses, to hang in their homes for protection. They also made dolls of Brigid, called Brídeógs, and carried them in parades. People believed Saint Brigid would visit their homes on the night before her day. They would prepare a bed, leave food, and put clothes outside for her blessing. Visiting holy wells and sharing special meals were also common. The day was often used to predict the weather for the rest of spring.

Many of these old traditions faded away in the 1900s. However, Imbolc is still celebrated today. Some Christians observe it as a religious holiday. Others, including some modern pagans, celebrate it as a cultural or spiritual event. In Ireland, Imbolc/St Brigid's Day became a yearly public holiday in 2023. This means people get a day off to celebrate the saint and the start of spring!

Understanding the Name Imbolc

The name Imbolc has a few possible meanings. One idea is that it comes from an old Irish phrase meaning 'in the belly'. This might refer to ewes (female sheep) being pregnant around this time of year. Another idea suggests it means 'cleansing' or 'washing'. This could be about a special cleaning ritual. Some old writings also called it Oímelc, which means 'ewe milk'. This name makes sense because it's when sheep start producing milk again after winter.

Ancient stories mention Imbolc. For example, a 12th-century text called the Táin Bó Cúailnge says Imbolc happens three months after the festival of Samhain (November 1st). Later versions of this story changed Imbolc to 'St Brigid's Feast'. This shows how the Christian holiday became linked with the older festival. Imbolc is also connected to Candlemas, a Christian holiday on February 2nd. Over the centuries, the spelling and names for this festival changed. But it was always understood to be the same special day.

The Ancient Origins of Imbolc

Saint Brigid depicted as a shepherdess with a lamb and calf

Historians believe Imbolc started long before Christianity. It was likely a very important day for ancient farmers. It marked the start of the lambing season, when new lambs were born. This meant fresh sheep's milk was available after a long winter with less food. It also signaled the time to prepare fields for planting crops in spring. Some experts think it was also a festival for cleansing or purification, similar to old Roman festivals.

The date of Imbolc might have been special even in ancient times, thousands of years ago. Some old stone tombs in Ireland are built so that the sun shines directly into them around Imbolc and Samhain. This suggests these dates were important to early people.

Historians believe Imbolc was so important that its date was later chosen for Saint Brigid's feast day. Saint Brigid lived in the 6th century and founded a famous monastery. Many stories about her are old legends and miracle tales. Some people think Saint Brigid might have been inspired by an older goddess also named Brigid. Both the saint and the goddess are linked to wisdom, healing, and protecting animals. Since Imbolc celebrates new life and milk, it made sense to connect it with Brigid, whether as a goddess of fertility or a saint known for caring for others.

A famous expert on folklore, Seán Ó Súilleabháin, said that Saint Brigid's Day was a Christian way to celebrate a key moment in the farming year. It was the time when farmers started getting ready to plant their crops for spring. All the traditions around Saint Brigid are connected to growing food.

Historical Customs and Traditions

Old Irish writings mention Imbolc as one of four main seasonal festivals. The others were Beltane (May 1st), Lughnasadh (August 1st), and Samhain (November 1st). These writings say Imbolc was when sheep started giving milk at the beginning of spring. This was important for farmers. An old poem also suggests that washing hands, feet, and head was part of the celebration. This might have been a ritual cleansing.

From the 1700s to the mid-1900s, many traditions for St Brigid's Day were recorded. These records help us understand how people celebrated this special time.

Making Brigid's Crosses

Brigid's cross above a doorway in Downpatrick.

In Ireland, Brigid's crosses are traditionally made on St Brigid's Day. These crosses are usually woven from rushes into a four-armed shape. People hang them over doors, windows, and in barns. They believed these crosses welcomed Brigid and protected their homes from fire, lightning, sickness, and bad spirits. The crosses were usually left up until the next St Brigid's Day. In some areas, people made a large ring of rushes called a Crios Bríde (Brigid's girdle). Young boys would carry it around the village, inviting people to step through it for a blessing.

Welcoming Brigid to Your Home

Painting of Saint Brigid with a bowl of fire, a spindle, and a cow in St. Patrick's Chapel, Glastonbury.

On the night before St Brigid's Day, people believed Brigid would visit good households. She would bless the people living there. Brigid represented the return of light and warmth after the dark winter. Her visit was very important for bringing spring.

Before going to bed, people would leave clothes or strips of cloth outside. They believed Brigid would bless these items. The next morning, they would bring them inside. People thought these blessed cloths had healing and protective powers.

Families would also symbolically invite Brigid into their homes. Often, they would make a special bed for her. In some places, a family member would pretend to be Brigid. They would walk around the house three times carrying rushes. Then, they would knock on the door three times, asking to be let in. After the third knock, they were welcomed inside. A meal was shared, and the rushes were used to make crosses or Brigid's bed.

In Scotland's Hebrides, people made a bed of hay or a basket-like cradle for Brigid. Someone would call out three times: "a Bhríd, a Bhríd, thig a stigh as gabh do leabaidh" ("Brigid, Brigid, come in; your bed is ready"). A doll made from corn, called the dealbh Bríde, was placed in the bed. A white stick, often made of birch, was laid beside it. This stick represented Brigid's magical wand, which she used to make plants grow again.

In the Outer Hebrides, people would smooth out the ashes in the fireplace before bed. In the morning, they would look for a mark on the ashes. This mark would be a sign that Brigid had visited.

Brigid's Procession and Parades

In Ireland and Scotland, girls and young women would parade a representation of Brigid around their community. This was usually a doll called a Brídeóg ('little Brigid'). It was made from rushes or reeds and decorated with cloth, flowers, or shells. In the Scottish Hebrides, a bright shell or crystal was placed on its chest. The girls would carry the Brídeóg in a procession, singing hymns to Brigid. They often wore white clothes with their hair down, symbolizing purity and youth.

They visited every house in the area. At each house, they received food or more decorations for the Brídeóg. Afterward, they would have a feast in a house, with the Brídeóg placed in a place of honor. They would even sing lullabies to it. After the meal, young men from the area would humbly ask to join. They would show respect to the Brídeóg and then join the girls in dancing and celebrating.

In some parts of Ireland, a girl would dress up as Brigid instead of carrying a doll. Other girls would escort her from house to house. She wore 'Brigid's crown' and carried 'Brigid's shield' and 'Brigid's cross', all made from rushes. Sometimes, the procession included 'strawboys'. These were men wearing tall straw hats and masks, playing folk music. Up until the mid-1900s, children in Ireland still went door-to-door asking for money for "poor Biddy," or for the poor.

Weather Lore and Predictions

Snowdrops in the snow

Imbolc is traditionally linked to weather lore. People would watch to see if animals like serpents or badgers came out of their winter dens. This old tradition might be an early version of Groundhog Day in North America. A Scottish Gaelic saying about the day goes:

People believed that the Cailleach—a mythical old woman in Gaelic stories—gathered her firewood on Imbolc. If she wanted winter to last longer, she would make Imbolc sunny. This way, she could gather plenty of wood. So, people were happy if Imbolc was a day of bad weather. It meant the Cailleach was asleep, and winter would soon be over.

Other Old Customs

Families would have a special meal on St Brigid's Eve. This marked the last night of winter. Foods like colcannon (cabbage and potatoes) or bannocks (flatbreads) were common. Often, some food and drink were set aside for Brigid.

In Ireland, it was customary to do a spring cleaning around St Brigid's Day. People traditionally visited holy wells. They would pray for good health while walking clockwise around the well. They might leave offerings, like coins or strips of cloth. Water from the well was used to bless homes, family, animals, and fields.

Imbolc Celebrations Today

People making Brigid's crosses at St Brigid's Well near Liscannor.

St Brigid's Day and Imbolc are celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians. Some people still make Brigid's crosses and Brídeógs. Others visit holy wells dedicated to St Brigid on February 1st.

Brigid's Day parades have been brought back in Killorglin, County Kerry, Ireland. This town now holds a yearly "Biddy's Day Festival". Men and women wear special straw hats and masks. They visit pubs carrying a Brídeóg to ward off bad spirits and bring good luck. The festival includes folk music, historical talks, films, plays, and workshops on making crosses. The main event is a torchlight parade of 'Biddy groups' through the town.

Since 2009, a yearly "Brigid of Faughart Festival" has been held in County Louth. This festival celebrates Brigid as both a saint and a goddess. It includes a long-standing pilgrimage to Faughart, along with music, poetry, and talks. The "Imbolc International Music Festival" of folk music is held in Derry around this time of year. In England, the village of Marsden, West Yorkshire holds an "Imbolc Fire Festival" every two years. This festival features a lantern procession, fire performers, music, fireworks, and a symbolic battle between characters representing nature and winter.

More recently, Irish embassies around the world have hosted yearly events on St Brigid's Day. These events celebrate famous women of Irish heritage and showcase the work of Irish female artists. In 2022, Dublin hosted its first "Brigit Festival". This festival celebrated the contributions of Irish women, both past and present, through exhibitions, tours, talks, films, and a concert.

In 2022, "Imbolc/St Brigid's Day" became a yearly public holiday in Ireland, starting in 2023. This holiday celebrates both the saint's feast day and the seasonal festival. It was noted that this was the first Irish public holiday named after a woman. It also means that all four traditional Celtic seasonal festivals are now public holidays. The public holiday is usually on the first Monday of February. However, if February 1st falls on a Friday, the holiday is observed on that Friday instead.

Modern Pagan Celebrations

Imbolc Festival in Marsden, West Yorkshire, 2007

Imbolc or Imbolc-based festivals are celebrated by some modern pagans. Their practices can vary a lot. Some try to follow the old historical ways of celebrating Imbolc. Others use many different ideas to inspire their celebrations. These festivals usually happen around February 1st in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, they are celebrated around August 1st.

Some modern pagans celebrate Imbolc at the exact middle point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is usually on February 3rd or 4th. Others celebrate on the full moon closest to this time. Some decide the date of Imbolc based on natural signs, like when the first spring flowers appear.

Modern pagans who follow Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism try to recreate ancient Celtic religious practices. Their celebrations are based on historical research. They often honor the goddess Brigid during this time.

Wiccans and Neo-Druids celebrate Imbolc as one of their eight main festivals in their Wheel of the Year. It comes after Midwinter and before Ostara (the spring equinox). In Wicca, Imbolc is often linked with the goddess Brigid.

See also

In Spanish: Imbolc para niños

• Candlemas
• Irish calendar
• Quarter days
• Wheel of the Year (Cross-Quarter days)