First off is Bridget. She is the goddess of fire as well as poetry, poetry, healing, childbirth, and unity. She is the daughter of Dagda the great “father-god” of Ireland, and was born in daylight as the sun rose and made rays of fire beam out of her head. She married an Irish King whose family had an ongoing feud with Bridget’s family; however she had hoped that their marriage would end the feud but it didn’t work. She had three sons two of which died in battle and for this she lamented so loudly that it was heard all around Ireland and ended the feud between the two families. Because of this particular lament she is credited for originating the practice of “keening”, and is also credited for the invention of whistling which she used to summon her friends to her side. Bridget also has the power to heal, according to a famous folktale, two guys went to her well and asked to be healed so she told them to bathe each other until the skin healed, the skin of the first one healed as the other one bathed him however the first one didn’t want to touch the other one out of revulsion, so Bridget placed her mantle over the other one healing him immediately and caused the first one to turn back. From this is where the “throw a penny into a well or fountain and make a wish” comes from. Bridget also protects the poets, musicians and scholars making her the god of poetry. Lastly Bridget was adopted by the Christians from the Pagans as a saint and therefore is also known as Saint Bridget of Ireland.
"Brigid: Celtic Goddess and Saint." Goddess Gift: Meet the Goddesses Here. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/goddess-brigid.htm>.
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