“May Brigit give blessings
to the house that is here;
....Brigit, the fair and tender,
Her hue like the cotton-grass,
rich-tressed maiden
of ringlets of gold”
--Scottish Gaelic Invocation
Names: Brigid (pronouced breed),Brigit, Brighid, Bridget,Bride, Brid, Brigantia, and
there are many others.
Meanings: “power”= Brigh, “bright arrow” and “fiery arrow”= Breo-saighead. She is
also known as “The Poetess” and “The Exalted One”. She has been indentified as a
Triple Goddess and called “The Three Brigits of poetry, healing, and smithcraft”and“The
Three Mothers”. Refering to her reputated connection with christianity she was called
“The foster Mother of Christ” and “The Mary of Gael”.
Countries: a Celtic Goddess of great popularity ranging from Ireland, Wales, Scottland,
England, Spain, France, and Germany.
Herstory: She is the daughter of The Dagda ( the good God). She had an exclusive female
priesthood ( of 19 virgin attendents then later nuns) and an ever-burning sacred fire at
Kildare. This fire was officially put out by the Church sometime in the 18th century and
only after petitioning was it relit February 2 1996 on her festival day. Brigit is special in
that most of her origianl traits remained intact when she was cannonized by the Chruch
and called St Bridget. As a Staint she is the most popular in Ireland only next to St
Patrick. Her name shows up in many places across the Isles: Bride Cross, Bride Stones,
Bridekirk, Bridport, Bridestow (England). Wells : Bridewell in England and Toibreacha
Bhrid in Ireland.Rivers: Brent (Eng), Braint (Wales), and Brighid (Ire).
Holiday/Festival: Imbolc- February 1st/2nd. This also known as St Bridets day and now
Groundhogs day as well. This holiday or Sabbat is the first of the 3 spring festivals and is
one of the 4 fire festivals. It is customery to make and corn or grain dollies, a symbol of
Brigid.
Correspondences: Brigid is a fire and water Goddess. She is indentified with fertility, the hearth, family,
childbirth, healing, physicians, agriculture, smithcraft, inspiration, poetry, learning,
creativity, protection, prophecy, divination, and the occult. Animals associated with her
are cows, oxen, boars, and rams. Blackberry is her plant and her number is 19.
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