IMBOLC

 

Imbolc, on February 1st

Is one of the four

Gaelic seasonal festivals

Imbolc marks

The beginning of spring

And the end winter.

Celebrated with feasting,

The making of Brighid's crosses,

The holy wells are visited,

And divination begins

BELTANE

 

Beltane, on May 1st

Is one of the four

Gaelic seasonal festivals

Beltane marks

The beginning of summer

And the end spring.

Celebrated with feasting,

The decorating of homes

With May flowers,

Visiting the holy wells

And the lighting of bonfires

LUGHNASADH

 

Lughnasadh, on August 1st

Is one of the four

Gaelic seasonal festivals

Lughnasadh marks

The beginning of autumn,

The harvest season,

And the end summer

Celebrated with feasting,

Fairs and athletic contests

And the offering of First Fruits

SAMHAIN

 

Samhain, on November 1st

Is one of the four

Gaelic seasonal festivals

Samhain marks

The beginning of winter,

The End of the harvest season,

And the end of autumn

Celebrated with feasting,

Guising and mumming

And the lighting of bonfires

MALEVOLENCE

 

It isn’t the Prophet,

Playing on their fears

Nor is it God whispering

Poison in their ears

It isn’t even the cowardly

Old men with bitter breath

That pollute young minds

To be bringers of death

It’s a more ancient evil

Spreading hatreds spoors

That turn young souls

Into satanic warriors

PATRON SAINT OF WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL

 

Anglo-Saxon St Swithun

Was Bishop of Winchester

From his consecration

Until his death.

A century later

Dunstan and Æthelwold

Adopted him as patron

Of the restored church

Of Winchester

His body was transferred

From almost complete obscurity

To Æthelwold's new basilica

After which his posthumous miracles occurred

The Winchester egg-woman

And Queen Emma's ordeal

 

Feast Day 15th July

SAINT BRIGIT OF KILDARE

 

Saint Brigit of Kildare

Or Brigid of Ireland

Also known as Mary of the Gael

Is one of Ireland's patron Saints

Along with Patrick and Columba

Her mother was Brocca

A Christian Pict and slave,

Baptised by Saint Patrick

Brigid herself was born into slavery

But it was clear she was holy

An became an early Christian nun

When she became Abbess,

She founded Kildare monastery

The Church of the Oak,

On the site of an old pagan shrine

To the Celtic goddess Brigid

 

Feast day 1st February