St. Brigid and the coming of spring
In this part of the world, the beginning of February marks the coming of Spring. Now, the Americans have Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow this week and predicted 6 more weeks of winter for America (3 Feb). We, in Ireland, on the other hand, have St. Brigid of Kildare (Naomh Bríd in Irish or Brigit, Bride, Bree, Bridget). Brigid was the daughter of Dubhthach, pagan Scottish king of Leinster, and Brocca (Broicsech), a Christian Pictish slave baptized by Saint Patrick.