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Celebrating Imbolc. Creating a Brideog Doll & a Bed for Brighid

A collage of previous Brighid and Brideog dolls, Brighid shrines, and Brighid prayer beads

This post covers:

• Creating a Brideog Doll

• Clips of Brideog Doll Processions

• A Guided meditation - Imbolc Eve story with some devotional music to Brighid

• Creating a Bed for Brighid

The Brideog Doll

The tradition of the Brideog doll at Imbolc was one that often involved the entire village. It’s a tradition my dad remembers, or rather he remembers collecting some money from his neighbours - which he says was his always a good inspiration for young boys. The doll was carried around from house to house in a procession where those in the house were asked if they wished to invite Brighid into their homes.

In his book ‘The Rites of Brigid’ Sean O Duinn gathers many of the Brideog rituals from around Ireland explaining that the Brideog doll was an image of Brighid, she was made from what materials were readily available, rushes or old rags or everyday clothes. The one thing that all these ceremonies had in common was the rite over the threshold of the house.

This gathering would stop at individual houses and perform a ceremony over the threshold of the house.

From outside the house, they would call (to those inside):

Teigi ar bhurngluine (go on your knees)

agus oscailigibhursuile (and open your eyes)

agus ligigiisteachbrid (and let Brighid enter)