| FOGS News Volume VIII number 2, February 1997 |
|
| Light from the goddess |
|
| When the Celtic calendar gradually overtook a timekeeping method perfected by ancestral markers in stone |
| of sun and moon times, the Great Mother, cult goddess of primitive northern cultures, also merged with the |
| goddess of the spring - Bride or Brigantia, in later Celtic Christianity, Brigid or Saint Bride. |
|
| As the Earth Mother in her Maiden aspect, she was supreme at a time known to the ancients for ewes giving |
| their first milk, this precious liquid providing sustenance not only for lambs, but for humans hardy enough to |
| have survived a northern winter. Emerging into the light of Candlemas or Imbolc, the maiden Bride was |
| celebrated on February 2nd, symbolising the earth's return to life. Her image or tiny effigy was created in a |
| ceremony, less well-known than that of her autumn guise, the Clyack sheaf (see FOGS Lughnasadh |
| newsletter Vol VII number 3, 1996). Just as the Clyack was woven from harvest straw into a 'corn dolly', |
| at the beginning of spring a miniature Bride was made by women from clay, dressed in white and laid in a |
| basket-cradle with a white stone or a crystal placed on her breast and candles lit around her. The cot-like |
| symbolism is a clear cry to Mother Earth to thank her for deliverance through winter and to ask her for fertility |
| in the new season. In some versions of the ceremony, Bride's white dress was adorned with snowdrops, |
| virtually the only flower brave enough to grace the earth at this time and with feathers from 'a red bird' |
|
| Here symbolism similar to Christianity of red & white, body and blood, is that of life. While harvest songs |
| have survived which were sung by men to celebrate a fruitful year, the sacred music for Candlemas was sung |
| by women. |
|
'On the feast day of Bride
The serpent shall come from his hole
I shall not molest the serpent
Nor shall he molest me' |
|
- Ancient Candlemas Rhyme |
|
|
| Like the American Groundhog, the serpent was said to come out of his winter quarters on Candlemas and |
| foretell the rest of winter. Bride's Day was anciently celebrated as the festival of the earth goddess back in |
| her maiden form, heralding new beginnings. |
|
| The right of the author to the above material and research is asserted; any duplication of this material should |
| include the author's copyright ©1998-2000 Marian Youngblood |
|
