Be Nice to Bridget Day and Happy Imbolc – the start of Celtic Spring.

February 1 celebrates the first signs of spring in the old Celtic calender of festivals. The word Imbolc means  in the belly referring to the pregnancy of ewes and the hoped-for fertility in the new farming year.
It is no coincidence that it is also St Brigid’s Day. She was a goddess, a saint, a nun, a wise woman. She is patron of babies;infants; young girls; children whose parents are not married; children whose mothers suffer domestic violence; mothers; fugitives; midwives, poets, students, sailors, farmers,  the poor…and Ireland. I’ve probably missed quite a few out.

Bridget comes in many forms – my version is probably the most boring. I’ve been called Biddy (only once), Bridie, Bridget and Albert (think about it) but usually just Bridget.
Here’s some of the more interesting variations of the name. Be nice to us all.
Brigid
Bhrid
Brigit
Bridgette
Brigitte
Brid
Breid
Breege
Breda
Biddy
Bride
Bridie
Breeze
And let’s hope for spring and a very good new year

photo credit: seyed mostafa zamani via photopin cc