Pagan Deities: Brigit

The goddess of Fire, Smiths, Poets, Child birth, and Healers; Brigit is a goddess of love and protection. The daughter of the mighty Dagda, she is a child of the Tuatha De Danann. She has two sisters, all with the same name as she, whom together make the Triple Goddess. She was wed to one from a divine race, the Fomorians, whose name was Bres. Together, she and Bres had a son named Ruadan (Brian).

When her son Ruadan was killed, during a battle against the Fomorians, she wailed and shrieked. These were the first sounds of shrieking and mourning Ireland had ever heard across her lands.

The story of the goddess has been an issue of great confusion, due to there being several variations of her tales. However, Brigit lives on today as a mighty goddess for the Neo-Pagans as well as a story of legends for the Celts.

With the arrival of Christianity to Ireland, the stories of Brigit the goddess and Brigit the Saint became intermingled. The Christians tried to incorporate the pagan goddess to suffice their need to spread the message of Jesus to the pagans. However, this worked for the pagans, because it helped keep the story of their goddess alive.

It was said that Brigit was present for the birth of Jesus, being his midwife and nurse. She is said to have protected the baby Jesus from the killing of male children. It is also said that she was baptized by St. Patrick.

The saint always kept a shrine in Kildare, Ireland that had an everlasting flame maintained by 19 virgins. The flame was maintained for 19 days by the 19 virgins. On the 20th day, Brigit herself maintained the flame.

The flame was maintained for over 1000 years, until 1220, when a bishop became angered over the entirely female host and had the shrine changed and the flame ceased.

This cross is a symbol associated with St. Brigid and is often made on February 1st in honor of her and the beginning of spring. The cross, when placed on the door of the house, is believed to help ward off evil spirits and fire from entering the residence.

• St. Brigit's Cross
• Fire
• Cattle
• Spear
• Candles

• Brigid
• Brighid (Scottish)
• Brid, Bridget (English)
• Brigan (Gaul)

• She is one of the most popular Triple Goddesses.
• She was celebrated on February 1st with festivities known as Oimlec.
• She is often associated with the goddess Minerva.