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Kozmik_Ken

829 posts

Re: 3 cheers for the big B

Oct 10, 2003, 14:36

From my own limited knowledge Brigid was a fertility goddess celebrated at Imbolc to mark the coming end of winter. Sometimes represented by a corn dolly dressed in white, sometimes shown in sculpture as either holding serpents and sometimes a spear. She was also represented by a corn fylfot or swastika (see Swastika Stone on Ilkley Moor - also common in Northern Italy as the Camunian Rose)... and was associated with the fertility of cows and sheep.

At her festival at Imbolc it was common (or so I have read) to drive cattle between two fires as an act of purification. Brigid was also attributed with fire - both physical fire and the fire of creativity.

Whether she originated in Ireland or not I don't know. But she was very big in Britain too and was considered one of the most powerful and widespread of the celtic pantheon.

In reply to:
Re: 3 cheers for the big B (Hob)

Replies:
Re: 3 cheers for the big B (Hob)
Re: 3 cheers for the big B (TomBo)

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