This is from the Albuquerque Journal on jan 26th

Feb. 2 Celebrations Mark Cycle of the Seasons

By Paul Logan Journal Staff Writer What do a Celtic pagan goddess, groundhog Punxsutawney Phil and an Irish saint have in common? They are all associated with the Feb. 2 celebration of Candlemas, also known as St. Brigit's Day and Groundhog Day, said the Rev. Marlin Gilbert. Gilbert, pastor of Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation, has researched the lore behind the annual springtime rite. He will present his findings Sunday during a 10:30 a.m. service at the Rio Rancho church, 1650 Abrazo Road. His homily is called "Awakening the Spirit." Gilbert said he will "make a pitch" about the importance of paying attention to the natural world, including the weather on Feb. 2. "With a lot of the holidays and celebrations we have, we haven't got a clue to where they came from," he said. "The key to understanding the present is uncovering the layers of history and the rich traditions passed down to us today. "The present is made up merely of the leftovers of history." From goddess to saint Long before Ireland became a Christian country, Brigit was considered the goddess of inspiration, creativity and prophecy as well as the goddess of blacksmiths, goldsmiths and household crafts of all sorts. She also was the goddess of healing, medicine, spiritual healing and fertility of crops and cattle, Gilbert said. Brigit's symbol was fiery flames. The Celts would construct "Brigit Wheels," circular, wreathlike creations made of corn and oat sheaves which were hung over doorways. "In torch-lit processions, they would circle a field to purify and invigorate the land for the coming growing season," Gilbert said. As Ireland was Christianized, there was a transference of veneration from the goddess to a woman who would become St. Brigit. He said in the Christian version, Brigit was believed to be the daughter of a chieftain who was a druid, a Celtic religious order of priests. Born in 452, Brigit converted to Christianity and became founder of the Order of Our Savior. She died in 524 and was canonized in 1391. One of the earliest accounts of her life was written in the seventh century, incorporating Irish folklore and miracle stories. But some modern scholars even doubt if she ever existed, Gilbert said. "The miracle stories emphasize the theme of multiplication of food," he said. "Her milk cows could give milk three times a day so bishops had enough to drink ... And she could change her bath water into beer in case a priest came to visit." In the city of Kildare, nuns tend her shrine where a sacred flame burns. Before Christianity came to Ireland, women also tended a sacred flame for the legendary goddess, Gilbert said. The celebrations of both the pagan goddess and St. Brigit are early in February. It is one of the pagan calendar's eight great feasts. Candlemas is the Christian feast day commemorating the purification of the Virgin Mary. It also is the day when candles for sacred uses are blessed. Gilbert said Candlemas is a transition point between winter and spring, almost the beginning of springtime. Traditionally, there is a blessing of fields on this day as they are about to be prepared for new crops. This is part of a celebration of the cycle of seasons. Ancient people were intimately aware of the cycles of nature, expressing in their lives the creative force of nature by this celebration, Gilbert said. "We've got a lot to learn," he said. "Modern-day people with central heating and electric lights are often separated from the forces of nature. We don't feel the quickening of life and earth in the springtime the way the ancient people did." Indians and settlers Sometime in the 1700s, the Delaware Indians settled an area between the Allegheny and Susquehanna rivers. They called the place Punxsutawney, meaning town of the sand flies. The Indians believed their ancestors began life as animals and later transformed into humans, resembling Darwin's theory of evolution, Gilbert said. Their ancestral grandfather was Wojak, the groundhog. Apparently, the name woodchuck evolved from the Indian name, he said. German settlers brought with them the Candlemas Day tradition. Weather on that day was particularly important. Germans believed that if the sun shown brightly on Feb. 2, it would mean six more weeks of winter weather. A number of rhymes and sayings have been passed down regarding the day, including: "If Candlemas be fair and bright, winter has another flight. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, winter will not come again." Along the way, the predictions about the springtime weather and Groundhog Day, which began in 1886, merged into whether or not a special groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Phil doesn't have a good record, Gilbert said. His winter prognostications only are correct 39 percent of the time. "This time of year we're on edge in a lot of parts of the world," he said. "It's a time of recognizing a quickening of new life." Gilbert likened the time to the goddess, Mother Earth, having a new life in her womb or being. "I'm marking this as an appropriate time to recognize the awakening of the spirit in the natural world and in ourselves," he said. Copyright 2001 Albuquerque Journal

Sherri in IN

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), January 30, 2001

Answers

I apologize that the formatting didn't come across correctly, it's kind of a bear to read now, isn't it? :-)

I just wanted to add that in Celtic countries it's considered good luck if it snows on Imbolc (Feb 1st). Snow on Imbolc uses up Winter's power, so it won't snow anymore after that day. If it doesn't snow on the first, Winter still has some tricks up his sleeve! Judging from the weather forecasts, we may get lucky here in Indiana.

Sherri in IN

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), January 30, 2001.

cool I always like to hear about how things came about thanks

-- MikeinKS (mhonk@oz-online.net), January 30, 2001.

This holiday is also called Imbolc (translates as "in the belly") or Oimelc (translates "ewe's milk") -- two more symbols of the ties to the natural rhythms and seasons.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), January 30, 2001.

Nice piece of info, but I think it confuses the idea of "goddess" and "patron saint." I doubt Bridget was considered a goddess, whereas different saints are named as patrons of different professions, animals, etc. THis doesn't mean we worship them as gods/goddesses - we pray to them to intercede to God on our behalf. After all, they are closest to Him in heaven.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), January 30, 2001.

Not sure what you're getting at, Christina. Brigit (Bridget, Brighid, Brigindo) was a pre-Christian Irish-Celtic Goddess, part of the Irish-Celtic mythology. She was associated with poetry, healing, childbirth, fire, and crafting, especially smithcrafting. Her festival was at this time of the year, between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. She was worshipped prior to Christianity's arrival in Ireland. This has been documented.

Whether St. Bridget was an actual woman or was a way to incorporate pagan beliefs into an increasingly Christianized population is unclear. There are no documents to verify the actual existance of a human woman who became St. Bridget. That, of course, doesn't say she DIDN'T exist, just that no one has any proof. However, for many, it seems likely that St. Bridget arose from the previous worship of Brigit, especially since Brigit's festival and St. Bridget's Day are celebrated at the same time of the year. Many Pagan traditions have been transmitted into Christian practice, which also seems to argue that St. Bridget came from Brigit. But as I noted, again, there is no proof one way or the other as far as I know.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), January 30, 2001.

Hmmmmmm........ I read your post sherri and had to stop to think for a minute. many years ago in college i was a history major and did a research paper on some woman who was cannonized as the first woman saint.... I can't recall her name now for the life of me. i think it was Margaret... but after reading your article i wonder if it was Bridgit. But if i recall this lady was supposduly possessed by demons and delivered by a priest. Then she went on to wander all over europe as much as a woman could in those days ministering to everyone about her miracle, her husband complaining but stood by her. She also had a rough childbirth too. Dog gone it... need to find that old paper. i remember digging into some very old documents at the Univ of Buffalo's library to get the scoop on her too!

Those papers are probably 13 yrs old now. i'm going to have to dig that out as i can't remember her name now.. LOL:):) Happens i guess as we get older.

anyways... interesting reading there.

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), January 30, 2001.

Sherri, Loved the story. More evidence of the continuity of beliefs, of those things most important in our collective life. Thanks.

-- Nina in E TX (nchick4997@aol.com), January 30, 2001.

Oh...quick! We had a LOT of rain last night!!! Does that mean we're gonna finally get SPRING?!!! (please?) or does it have to be ON the 2nd, like the groundhob thing. I swear I've been smelling spring in the air for a little over a week now.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), January 31, 2001.

I don't know how accurate this is, but one of my Catholic friends told me that St. Bridget is no longer considered an "official" Catholic saint because the church could find no evindence that such a person ever existed. My friend also said that St. Patrick is no longer an "official" saint either, because historical evidence shows that there were at least three Patricks. The church doesn't make this info too widely known for fear of offending the large Irish Catholic population. Sherri in IN

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), January 31, 2001.

I just couldn't resist putting this in..it is one of my all time favorite jokes[it's pretty simple so I guess it says a lot about me.]

-- Artie Ann Karns (rokarns@arkansas.net), January 31, 2001.

I just couldn't resist putting this in..it is one of my all time favorite jokes[it's pretty simple so I guess it says a lot about me.] One morning in a first grade class the teacher was calling the roll and taking up lunch money and milk money. In the middle of this roll call she suddenly remembered and announced to the class "oh, by the way to da is GroundHog day." In the back of the room a small voice piped up "I sure am glad I brought my lunch!"

-- Artie Ann Karns (rokarns@arkansas.net), January 31, 2001.

That's a good one, Artie! When I was in grade school, there was a food (?) item on the menu called "Porcupine Meat Balls". I was convinced it WAS porcupine (and it was really greasy, like porcupine is supposed to be). I spent a couple of years VERY reluctant to eat that dish. I finally found out it was just meat balls with rice mixed into the meat!

[Julie! Groundhob? What HAS that naughty Hobbit been up to? ROTFL!]

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), January 31, 2001.

Groundhob -- a male Groundhog. Groundjill -- a female Groundhog. Same as with Ferrets. (okay, so my finger slipped!!!) <:3

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), January 31, 2001.