On February 1st, Ireland celebrates the beginning of the spring season Imbolic, also known as St. Brigid’s Day.
St. Brigid of Kildare was born in 5th century Ireland and was said to be baptized by St. Patrick. She is associated with being the Saint of fertility, healing, creativity, and the arts. Some have also said that she is the original Celtic goddess of pre-Christian Ireland, but she could simply be named after her as well.
Ireland chose St. Brigid’s feast day as the first day of Spring because St. Brigid believed that Spring was the season of hope and new life. Farmers commemorate the day by making a St. Brigid cross for good weather for their crops, while families display the cross in their homes for promises of fertility and protection from illnesses.
While St. Brigid’s Day has been celebrated for many years in Ireland, it wasn’t until 2023 that St. Brigid’s Day was recognized as a national holiday, the first national holiday to be named after a woman in Ireland.
Happy St. Brigid’s Day!
