February 1st is known as Imbolc in the pagan Wheel of the Year, and as St Brigid’s Day in the Catholic church.

In the ancient Celtic world, Imbolc marked the beginning of Spring, associations during this time are linked heavily with lambing season, Snowdrops seem to have become very closely associated with Imbolc, and Brigid in particular. They are green and white – the freshness of Spring combined with the purity of the Goddess, and the colour of milk which this festival celebrates.

A traditional Celtic tale tells of the Cailleach kidnapping Bríd from her rightful place at the harvest fires of Samhain and keeping her captive through the cold, dark, winter months. On Imbolc Eve, Bríd’s brother Oenghus rides from the Otherworld on a white horse to rescue her.

There are obvious similarities between this story and the Greek myth of Persephone. However, in some variations Bríd and the Cailleach are seen as two faces of the same goddess, with the Cailleach transforming into Bríd by drinking from a sacred well at dawn.

The Celtic goddess was co-opted by the Catholic church as St Brigid. In Ireland, there are stories of Brigid working as a serving maid in a tiny inn in Bethlehem, where she served as midwife to Mary and even as a foster mother to Jesus.

In rural Ireland, the Brídeog – a human shaped doll made of rushes or straw – was carried from house to house in a procession, giving blessings and collecting donations for the local church.

Even in the last few decades, Irish schoolchildren would make Brigid’s crosses by plaiting rushes or straw and these would be fixed to the household beams, or above the door.

There are many traditions associated with Brigid and Imbolc. Often these are associated with divination, looking for good fortune in the coming year, and leaving gifts of food for Brigid to collect.