St. Brigid's Day

The Fiery Arrow of almost Spring

Today is St. Brigid’s Day—a celebration of mid-season that has ancient roots. And this year, it is officially a public holiday in Ireland—the first public holiday to honor a woman. A campaign started by the Irish organization Herstory.

St. Brigid (d. 524) is the mother saint of Ireland—and also the patron saint of poets, healers, blacksmiths, seers, and childbirth. There is very little that can be verified of her life historically—she is most likely a syncretization of Christianity with earlier Celtic traditions, of the prominent goddess Brigid, also associated with learning, poetry, prophesy, healing, and metalwork. Some things stay the same the more they change.

As a saint, Brigid was also known to be a friend to animals and closely associated with the natural world. Her center was situated at Kildare—meaning the church of the Oak. And drawing closer to characteristics of other prominent goddesses, the saint was also known to be a patroness of armies who fought on behalf of her provin…