Candlemas (or Imbolc, also known as Oimelc) is dedicated to Saint Brigit, whom Robert Graves believes was formerly Brigid, the White Goddess. Thus, this day is dedicated to the quickening of the Triple Muse or the Threefold Muse (Brigid of Poetry, Brigid of Healing and Brigid of Smithcraft). She is also known by the names of Brigid and Bridgit and by Brigantia in England, Bride in Scotland, Caridwen in Wales and Brigandu in Celtic France. In Scotland her symbol was the white swan and she was known as the Bride of the Golden Hair, Bride of the White Hills, mother of the King of Glory.
A Cornish invocation (to eliminate scald) offered to the local Brigid Triad reads:
Three Ladies came from the East,
One with fire, two with frost,
Out with thee, fire, and with thee, frost.
She is a clear example of the survival of an early Goddess into Christian times. She was called the daughter of a Druid by her followers. She ruled metal-smithing, poetry, inspiration, healing, fertility, childbirth and medicine. Moreover, she ruled over the ‘fire of the hearth and the ‘fire of the forge’. She was associated with her famous cauldron of knowledge and inspiration, where she could be invoked as both a muse and healer. She was worshiped by poets, granting them great protection. Often a golden branch with tinkling bells was carried in her honor.
Sheep, cattle and other livestock are sacred to her, as well as snakes (in Scotland). It was believed that Brigid’s snakes emerged from mounds in the Earth on Candlemas to test the weather and possibly determine if there was to be an early spring. This belief has morphed into Groundhog Day in the U.S. and Canada.
She is associated with the rivers Brent and Braint. Ancient, sacred underground springs and wells were attributed to her and there is a famous one in Kildare, Ireland. Offerings could be made to the Goddess in the forms of coins or brass/gold rings which were cast into her sacred wells or springs. Other sacred sites dedicated to her were where three streams came together.
Her triple aspect is not considered to be separate Goddesses, but rather aspects of one deity, unified by fire. Her name indicates “bright one”, “bright arrow” or “the High One”. The worship of this ancient pagan Fire-Goddess continued into Christian times where fires were kept burning in shrines for 20 day cycles. Into the 18th century, a version of her ancient song was sung: “Brigid, excellent woman, sudden flame, may the bright fiery sun take us to the lasting kingdom.” (The Book of Goddesses and Heroines, Monaghan)
Both fire and water were sacred to her, evident by her powers over the forge (heat forms the iron and water tempers it) and cauldron (heat and water to make teas and medicine).
Another of symbols was the Brigid’s cross, resembling a swastika, often woven from rushes and dating back to Celtic times. It is traditionally used as a talisman for protection.
In Irish legend Breo Saighead, or the “Fiery Arrow or Power,” is a Celtic three-fold goddess, the daughter of The Dagda, and the wife of Bres (King of Tuatha De Danann). She is mother to the craftsmen ‘Sons of Tuireann’: Creidhne, Luchtaine and Giobhniu. It is believed that she was born at sunrise (thus a Sun or Fire Goddess) and a tower of flame burst from her forehead, as the goddess descended from Heaven to Earth. She is more than likely referenced in a line from the famous Song of Amergin ( or Amairgin, which was an orally transmitted poem thought by some scholars to date back to before the Roman invasion of the British Isles). Robert Graves translates this line as “I am a God who forms fire for a head.” Incidentally the Song of Amergin is an excellent poem to recite during a Sabbat Ritual.
Some equate Brigid with The Lady of the Lake from the Legend of King Arthur and possibly it was she who forged his sword Excalibur. Like Arthur, she is associated with Avalon, or the Isle of Apples, as it is believed she has an apple orchard in the Celtic Otherworld.
The White Goddess/Lady aspect of her is known as Cailleach, who rules the season of Winter. At Candlemas or Imbolc, also known as Oimelc (translated as “in the belly” and possibly related to the pregnancy of ewes), Brigid transforms into her maiden aspect and she calls back the light, which leads to spring.
Imbolc has long been associated with the beginning of the lambing season, which could begin as early as two weeks before the first of February.
Some scholars believe that the date of Imbolc is associated with the Neolithic period. This is based on the alignment of some Megalithic monuments. For example, at the Mound of the Hostages on the Hill of Tara the inner chamber is in alignment with the rising sun on the dates of Imbolc and Samhain.
If indeed, this festival dates back to the Neolithic period, one can imagine the struggle by ancient people to survive through the winter. By February, food was scarce; the land frozen and barren.
During the times of early agriculture, the ewes giving birth to the first lambs of the year, could provide the people with warm milk and other rudimentary milk products such as curds and whey.
Candlemas is a time of hope, purification and divination.