Brigid

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This article refers to the Pagan Goddess Brigid. For the Catholic/Orthodox Saint of that name, see Saint Brigid.

In Irish mythology as it is presently constituted, Brigit or Brighit ("exalted one") was the daughter of Dagda (and therefore one of the Tuatha Dé Danann) and wife of Bres of the Fomorians. She had two sisters, also named Brighid, and is considered a classic Celtic Triple Goddess.

Since writing first came to Ireland in the wake of Christianity, evidence for a pagan goddess Brigid or Brig must derive from inscriptions; however, none of the inscriptions identifying Brigid have been found in Ireland.

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Etymology

This theonym appears to be derived from Proto-Celtic *Brigantījā meaning "exalted feminine [spirit ]" (q.v. [1] [2] [3]). Some of her titles included:

  • "Brigantia, Exaltedness of Inspiration" - patroness of poets
  • "Brigantia, Exaltedness of the Hearth" - patroness of healers, goddess of fertility
  • "Brigantia, Exaltedness of the Forge" - patroness of smiths, craftsmen and warriors
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Familial relations

By Tuireann, she was the mother of Creidhne, Luchtaine and Goibniu.

She is identified in Lebor Gabála Érenn as a daughter of the Dagda and a poetess. The same passage mentions that she has two oxen, Fe and Men, that graze at a place named for them, Femhen.

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Associations

Brigid possessed an apple orchard in the Otherworld; bees traveled there to obtain magical nectar. This orchard was associated with Avalon. The Lady of the Lake in Arthurian Legend may be based on Brigid.

In Cath Maige Tuireadh, Bríg (sic) invents keening while mourning for Ruadán (her son by Bres), slain while fighting for the Fomorians. She is credited in the same passage with inventing a whistle used for night travel.

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Divine responsibilities

Brigid was the goddess of the Sacred Flame of Kildare and the patron goddess of the Druids. She was the goddess of all things perceived to be of relatively high dimensions such as high-rising flames, highlands, hill-forts and upland areas; and of activities and states conceived as psychologically lofty and elevated, such as wisdom, excellence, perfection, high intelligence, poetic eloquence, craftsmanship (especially blacksmithy), healing ability, druidic knowledge and skill in warfare. A number of these associations are attested in Cormac's Glossary. Her British and continental counterpart Brigantia seems to have been the Celtic equivalent of the Roman Minerva and the Greek Athena (Encyclopedia Britannica: Celtic Religion), goddesses with very similar functions and apparently embodying the same concept of 'elevated state', whether physical or psychological.

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Festivals

On February 1, Brigid was celebrated at Imbolc, when she brought spring to the land. It is also the feast day of St Brigid (who is honored by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and some Anglicans).

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Other names

Old Irish Brigit Template:IPA came to be spelled Brighid by the modern Irish period. Since the spelling reform of 1948, this has been spelled Bríd Template:IPA. The earlier form gave rise to the anglicization Bridget, now commonly seen as Brigid.

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Bibliography

  • Bitel, Lisa M. 2001. "St. Brigit of Ireland: From Virgin Saint to Fertility Goddess" on-line)
  • MacKillop, James. 1998.Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. (Oxford: Oxford University Press) ISBN 0192801201.


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See also

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External links

es:Brigit fr:Brigit gd:Brìghde it:Brigid ja:ブリギッド nl:Brigit pl:Brigid ro:Brigid ru:Бригита

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