What Does "Brigit's Fire" Mean?

Brigit was a Celtic goddess before the Roman Catholic Church made her a Saint.

She has many faces, amongst them being the Celtic goddess of poetry and inspiration,  of healing and medicine,  and of smithcraft. 

When Christianity came to the ancient Celts, the Church made of her a Saint, knowing that to alienate the Celts would slow or even stop their conversion to Christianity.  Legend suggests that Saint Brigit midwifed the Virgin Mary.  Other stories of Brigid say that rather than marry, she begged her father to allow her to enter a Convent, to which plea he grudgingly relented, and that at one point, she converted a dying Druid King to Christianity on his deathbed.  Some even suggest she was the bride of Saint Patrick.

There are many variations of Brigit's name.  She has been called Brighid,  Bridget,  Brigid, and Bride in Scotland. These have been pronounced as both "Breed" and "Brigit".  Both are correct.  The Catholic Church renamed her Saint Brigid, her most commonly known name in modern times.

Poets made offerings to her.  Their style of writing was known as "the fire in the head" so it is natural that Brigit became their Muse.  Invoking her name and making offerings to Brigit was thought to attract her attention and goodwill, that she might consider aiding the poet in his/her creativity.

The hearthfire is sacred to her.  Old Celtic stories relate that Brigit's sunrise birth brought fire into the home and made it manageable for use in keeping people warm, cooking and the smith's forge.
 

It seems only right and natural that this inspired and gifted group should give respect to this notable and long esteemed Lady of Many Names.

Fd bhrat Bhrighde!

May you be safe under Brigit's Mantle!

~compiled by L D Gerry