Brigid & Christianity
Brigid: Patron Saint of Ireland
Brigid loomed very large indeed. Few people realize that she is one of the three patron saints of Ireland. In fairness, St. Colmchille doesn't get much of a look in either! St. Patrick seems to get all the press these days! There are many townlands that boast a "Brigid's Well" and many have faith in the curative powers of these waters. If you visit one of the wells, don't be surprised to see small tokens of gratitude placed there in her honor. To this day, people still harbor a deep affection for this woman, if only because of their own mother's or grandmother's love for her.
She is still a very real presence on the land. This is no mere figure of the imagination or history. These tokens attest to her ongoing embodiment of the divine feminine in the hearts of women who come from all over the world to her Holy Shrines. She lives on.
Brigid & Early Christianity
When Christianity was introduced to Ireland, it was welcomed. In fact, there is a Poem Attributed To Brigid Herself wherein she talks about now nice it would be to 'have a pint' with Jesus Christ. (I'd like to give a Lake of Beer to God). While difficult to fathom in modern times, Brigid would have been known for turning water to ale, stone to salt and having the ability to multiply food! Sound familiar? So, to these tribes, Jesus Christ was not unfamiliar and to them, and indeed Brigid, he sounded just like one of their tribe. For several centuries, we're led to believe that these two systems co-existed nicely and melded to a large degree.
"Oiche Fhéile Bhríde" (the eve of St.Bridgit's Day) (January 31st)
The greatest Celebration to honor Brigid was "Oiche Fhéile Bhríde" or ‘the eve of St.Bridgit's Day.'
