celebrating lá fhéile bríde

Lá Fhéile Bríde is winding down - the candles are still out and it has been a very satisfying meal and general family companionship.  A great time for a holiday.

 

Lá Fhéile Bríde?

 

Here is a note I sent to a few people today...

 

It  turns out Groundhog's Day is a cross quarter day - specifically Imbolc (spelling depending on which tradition you are using).  The cross quarter days mark the halfway points between the seasons and many cultures use them.  I like them because they tend to represent the season you are currently in rather than the starting point.

My grandmother was Irish and celebrated Lá Fhéile Bríde, which is the feast day of St Brigid in Irish.  It is roughly the time you would see the earliest beginnings of Spring in Ireland - namely the ewes would be getting ready to have lambs.  The holiday was a big thing with her and had candles, rich foods and a huge family dinner.  The ashes of the fire were sorted through to make predictions and she said the proper way to do this was with a bonfire.  You would also look for signs of certain animals - the hedgehog was one - for signs of the future.

 

The curious part is it is the time of the hag  (Cailleach in Gaelich).  This is an old wise woman often dressed in rags and carrying a bundle.  She is supposed to be a magical being like a fairy.  On Imbolc she carries firewood for the rest of the Winter.  One of her powers is controlling the weather, so if she is going to make Winter last a long time she makes certain the day is bright and sunny so she can find as much firewood as possible. Poor weather means she must be sleeping or wants a short Winter and it will soon be over.

 

The more modern celebration (since Catholicism) is also called Candlemass and is associated with St Brigid in some way I can't remember other than young unmarried women make ribbons for an effigy of her.  St Brigid is supposed to visit households in the night (sort of like Santa Claus) and if she has the household is blessed and protected.  You check the ashes of the fire that has burned overnight for signs, but I never spent enough time with her to figure that out…

 

So many traditions out there -- it is neat how this one got tangled up in a day that is noted still.  

 

To try and keep touch with tradition and remember my grandmother we have a big family dinnerwith a lot of rich foods and lots of candles.  We don't have a fireplace, but we sing and generally do music.  It would be nice to have a bonfire some day.

oh - the pronunciation is ~  law ay-leh bree-djeh       imbolc is usually pronounced with a hard c, although I've heard it with a hard g and sometimes the c is silent…  I don't know the preferred.

 

 

Understanding a bit of culture is critical these days and that means diving in and appreciating some of the myths that often bring color and meaning to culture.  You don't have to buy into them, but understanding gives appreciation.  

 

I'm half Irish and it makes a lot of sense to understand where you came from. The bonus is early February is a fine time for a family get together with rich meals, story telling, music and light from fires.

 

Indeed, Spring is on its way.

 

and, in the spirit of combining cultures, this bit of fun.  An appropriate song to sing might be "I Got You Babe" in Irish Gaelic: (rough machine translation)

A: Deir siad go bhfuil muid óg agus níl a fhios againn
Ní féidir linn a fháil amach go dtí go fhás muid
AIR: Bhuel níl a fhios agam má tá go léir go fíor
'Cause fuair tú dom, agus leanbh a fuair mé leat

AIR: Babe
AN DÁ: Fuair ​​mé tú babe
Fuair ​​mé tú babe

A: Deir siad nach mbeidh ár ngrá an cíos a íoc
Sula tá sé tuillte sé, ár n-airgead caite go léir
AIR: buille faoi thuairim mé go bhfuil sin, nach bhfuil againn pota
Ach ar a laghad, tá mé cinnte de na rudaí fuair muid

AIR: Babe
AN DÁ: Fuair ​​mé tú babe
Fuair ​​mé tú babe

AIR: Fuair ​​mé bláthanna san earrach
Fuair ​​mé tú a chaitheamh mo fáinne
A: Agus nuair atá mé brónach, tá tú clown
Agus má fhaigheann mé scanraithe, tá tú i gcónaí ar fud

A: Ná lig dóibh a rá tá do chuid gruaige ró-fhada
'Cause Is cuma liom, a bhfuil tú ní féidir liom dul go mícheart
AIR: Ansin cuir do lámh beag i mianach
Níl aon cnoc nó sliabh nach féidir linn a tóg

AIR: Babe
AN DÁ: Fuair ​​mé tú babe
Fuair ​​mé tú babe

AIR: Fuair ​​mé tú a bheith i seilbh mo lámh
A: Fuair ​​mé tú a thuiscint
AIR: Fuair ​​mé tú ag siúl liom
A: Fuair ​​mé tú a labhairt liom
Fuair ​​mé tú Goodnight a póg
Fuair ​​mé tú a bheith i seilbh daingean mé
Fuair ​​mé tú, ní bheidh mé in iúl go
Fuair ​​mé tú grá dom mar sin

AN DÁ: Fuair ​​mé tú babe
Fuair ​​mé tú babe
Fuair ​​mé tú babe
Fuair ​​mé tú babe
Fuair ​​mé tú babe