Today, February 1 is the Feast of St. Brigid.
St. Brigid is the patron saint of babies, blacksmiths, boatmen, cattle farmers, children whose parents are not married, children whose mothers are mistreated by the children’s fathers, Clan Douglas, dairymaids, dairy workers, fugitives, Ireland, Leinster, mariners, midwives, milkmaids, nuns, poets, the poor, poultry farmers, poultry raisers, printing presses, sailors, scholars, travelers, and watermen.
Also, goddess of fire, poetry, healing, and smithcraft. She’s a goddess and a saint.
One tradition is to hang a cloth of some sort, often a scarf, outside to receive a blessing. The conceit is that the scarf adds a layer of protection of the throat. There are many variants of this.
Here’s quick overview
I mixed it up and hung a trans pride flag scarf outside the backdoor which is mainly my front door. I tied it on the light post.
That’s when I saw this ghastly, mesmerizing ice sculpture working its way down the wires and vines attached the house. We can use all the blessings anyone sees fit to cast upon us after this entrance to 2026 – two thefts from the pet food pantry, a blizzard that’s been unrelenting, court drama, and unceasing weekly visits to the veterinarian with different cats.
February 1 is also Imholc, a Gaelic festival marking the start of spring and the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Known as a “fire festival,” it celebrates the return of light.
I bought this scarf from a trans creator about four years ago. It is too short for me to use in a hard core way, more of a gentle reminder that my protection is wrapped up in protection of the trans community. You might notice a rainbow lantern, very tattered from 20+ years of hanging outside.
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