Brigid: Mythology
Brigid is a Celtic Goddess whose name means "Exalted, Rising, Ascending". She is the patroness of everything that strives upward - ranging from the flickers of flames and mountain peaks to the lofty spiritual aspirations of humans, their pursuit of creativity, knowledge, and impeccable craftsmanship.
Origin and Mythological Context
Brigid is one of the most complex and contradictory figures in the entire Celtic pantheon. However, she is perhaps the most significant religious figure in all of Irish history. Her name is closely associated with several different spiritual traditions and practices, making it difficult to evaluate her history and influence.
Nevertheless, her inherent flexibility, "fluidity," and ability to transform in new circumstances allowed the Goddess to easily overcome the span of centuries, while the names of many other Gods she once began her journey with have long since faded from human memory.
Brigid had - and still has - many names. She is called Bride, Bridey, Brighid, Brigit, Briggidda, and Brigantia. Any of these names, when addressed to the Goddess, is correct if spoken with a pure heart.
Brigid is a Goddess who embodies both spiritual and earthly power. She is closely associated with fertility, harvests, crafts, and healing. In myths, she is often depicted as a protector of the people, a wise woman who grants the gift of healing, as well as a patroness of crafts, especially blacksmithing. These qualities make her a multifaceted and important symbol for Celtic society.
In the ancient Irish mythological collection, known as the "Book of Invasions of Ireland," it is said that Brigid was the daughter of the God Dagda and a poetess from the tribe of the Goddess Danu. Brigid’s husband, Bres, was a demigod. While his mother was the beautiful Ériu - the Goddess who gave Ireland its name - his father was Elatha, a king of the Fomorians. The Fomorians, dark forces of chaos, were ancient and powerful enemies of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the tribe to which Brigid belonged. The marriage between Brigid and Bres was believed to help extinguish the long-standing enmity between the tribes. Initially, this was indeed the case.
According to legend, Brigid gave birth to three divine sons by Bres, one of whom was Ogma - the God of eloquence, teacher of poetry, and the inventor of the Ogham writing system.
According to another version, Brigid is the mother of three sons by a mysterious figure named Tuireann, who is sometimes depicted as female.
By some accounts, she mourned the death of Rúadán with Ireland’s first keening - a loud, wailing cry of sorrow. Some texts even claim she invented whistling.
It says she has two oxen, Fea and Femen, from whom are named Mag Fea (the plain of the River Barrow) and Mag Femin (the plain of the River Suir).
Elsewhere, these are named as the two oxen of Dil, "radiant of beauty," which may have been a byname for Brigid. It also says she possesses the "king of boars", Torc Triath (from whom the plain of Treithirne is named), and the "king of wethers", Cirb (from whom the plain of Cirb is named). The animals were said to cry out whenever plundering was committed in Ireland. This suggests Brigid was a guardian goddess of domesticated animals.
Brigid as the Fire Goddess
Brigid's attributes include light, inspiration, professions, and arts related to fire - whether actual or creative. Ultimately, the Goddess embodies our inner life - creating energy that allows us to know and create.
This fire is known by different names in mystical practices across cultures - Shakti in Krishnaite Shaivism, the fire of Tummo in Buddhist Tantra, and "The Light of the Heart" in Daoism. This is the fire that Mircea Eliade wrote about, stating that "it takes the person out of their worldly, profane universe or historical situation and pushes them into a qualitatively different universe, into another world, transcendental and sacred".
Brigid as the Goddess of Crafts and Art
The Celts often created triads of their gods, and Brigid was no exception. Some sources speak of three Brigids, goddess sisters, whom others consider a single entity. In the Glossary of Cormac, written by Irish Christian monks in the 10th century, it is stated that Brigid was “the Goddess loved by poets,” and that she had two sisters with the same name, one associated with healing and the other with crafts, especially blacksmithing.
It explains that from these, all Goddesses in Ireland are called Brigit, suggesting that it "may have been more of a title than a personal name".
However, above all, Brigid was the Goddess of knowledge, culture, and poetry, whom the Celts greatly loved and revered. This is why, in his "Commentaries on the Gallic War," Caesar equated the Gallic* counterpart of Brigid with the Roman Goddess Minerva - the Goddess of wisdom, patroness, and partially the inventor of crafts and arts.
*) "Gauls" referred to the continental Celts by the Romans.
Brigid as the Goddess of Healing
A special place in the cult of Brigid was her role as the Goddess of healing. She was known for her knowledge in medicine and her ability to cure diseases. In myths, she is often portrayed as a nurturing figure who helps people regain their strength and heal from illnesses.
These qualities made her one of the most important figures in the religious life of the Celts, as care for health was an essential part of their worldview.
The Imbolc Festival
The name of Brigid is also associated with the end of winter, the awakening of nature, and fertility.
The Imbolc festival, which took place on February 1st, was dedicated to Brigid. It was a festival of fire and purification, linked to the beginning of spring and the rebirth of life.
Imbolc symbolized cleansing and preparation for a new cycle of the year.
On this day, the Celts would gather to honor Brigid and ask for her help in ensuring a bountiful harvest and prosperity. Fires were also lit, emphasizing the importance of fire in Brigid’s cult. The festival was associated with the concept of purification, both physical and spiritual.
This was a time when people would ask Brigid to grant them strength, health, and prosperity for the entire year.
Brigid and Merlin
On British inscriptions, Brigid is designated as the heroic Dea Brigantia - the equivalent of the Roman Victoria. One of her places of veneration was the land of the Brigantes - the tribe that was named after the Goddess.
A story from the 12th century tells how the sage and magician Merlin – the mentor and advisor to King Arthur - was inspired by a mysterious female figure, embodying the supreme power of all Britain. This mysterious stranger gave Merlin the ability to foresee the future history of Britain and, moreover, revealed to him the cosmology, showing him how the world is structured.
Three rivers were named after the Goddess – Brigid, Braint, and Brent, in Ireland, Wales, and England, respectively.
Brigid’s Transformation into a Christian Saint
As Christianity began to spread across Ireland, some Celtic deities were "reinterpreted" and integrated into Christian mythology. Thus, Brigid was transformed into Saint Brigid, who became one of the most venerated saints in Ireland and other countries.
Like her pagan predecessor, Saint Brigid was associated with healing, protection, and caring for the poor.
Saint Brigid became a symbol of Christian virtue and mercy, and her cult spread throughout Europe. The Christian version of Brigid retained many aspects of her pagan persona, such as her connection to fire and her care for people.
Final Thoughts
Brigid remains one of the most multifaceted figures in Celtic mythology, embodying many aspects of human life: from arts and crafts to healing and protective fire. Her cult and influence spread not only among the Celts but also had a significant impact on Christian tradition.
The transition from a pagan goddess to a Christian saint is a vivid example of how religious ideas and practices can adapt and transform across centuries, maintaining their key elements despite changes in cultural and religious contexts.