The midwinter festival of Imbolc marks the return of the light, and the emergence of the Goddess back into the world with her Son. The celebration of Imbolc has its beginnings in the Celtic culture and is still observed in Ireland as the feast day of St. Brigid, who stands alongside St. Patrick as a second patron of the country.
While Irish Catholic beliefs have superimposed themselves on the ancient Celtic customs, it is still possible to feel the magick in the rolling Irish hills, with the stone circles and dolmens dotting the countryside. Brigid herself is a symbol of the duality of Irish beliefs. St. Brigid was believed to have been born in Kildare, just west of Dublin, which was a pagan sanctuary in pre-Christian times. The name Kildare means "Church of the Oak," and for centuries a sacred flame was kept there in honor of the Goddess.
Brigid established the first female spiritual community in Ireland at Kildare, now a Christian convent that is still in operation today. Nearby you can visit the Curragh, a plain of grasslands, famous for its horseracing. Legend says that when seeking land for her community, Brigid asked the King of Leinster for as much land as could be covered by her cloak. He agreed, and the cloak spread to cover the Curragh, a 22-square-mile area.
Brigid was the daughter of a pagan chieftain, but she held her own power, exhibited when she declined her father's choice of husband for her. Brigid's life while she was considered a Christian saint is well-known; however, many of the miraculous acts attributed to her stem from the stories of the Celtic goddess Brigid, including the power of healing and the ability to communicate with animals.
On February first, it is still customary in Ireland to hang Brigid's cross, a Celtic cross made of braided reeds or rushes. The ancient rituals of Imbolc have been lost over time, but the Irish winter Ceilis are celebrations with their roots in pagan times. The Ceili is a day-long festival of traditional music and dancing, and pubs and cultural centers have Ceili events throughout the year, especially appreciated in winter as both entertainment and social gathering.
There are two types of dancing at a Ceili, set dancing, which is a partnered dance similar to square dancing, and step dancing, the hard shoe dance made famous by the musical Riverdance. Ceilis are held everywhere in Ireland, far too many to list, but two of the pubs in Dublin that are best known for their gatherings are the Brazen Head, Lower Bridge Street off Merchants Quay, which has traditional music every night, and Hughes Pub on Chancery Street, with gatherings on Thursday nights.
For other Ceili spots around Ireland, it's best to check in the local paper when visiting, or just ask around. Here in Seattle, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Brigid's Day, the Irish way. Among the dozens of Irish pubs in the area, Conor Byrne's Public House stands out with a weekly gathering on Tuesday nights from 8:30 to 11:00 P.M. Music is provided by a live five-piece band, playing pipe, fiddle and tin whistle. You may want to brush up on your step dancing skills, and the Northwest Irish Dancers have classes for all levels, from beginner to "Watch out, Michael Flatley!" They also perform at local events. For information, call 206-285-7186.
And, oh yeah, Riverdance is coming to town. It's playing now up in Vancouver at the Ford Center for Performing Arts until March first and will be at Seattle's Paramount Theater from May twenty-first to June seventh. Good luck getting tickets, and happy traveling!
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