Marking the coming end of winter and the beginning of spring, this is the time of the gods of fire such as Diancecht and Februus,  and  the virgin and fire  goddesses such as Athena, Diana, Vesta and the most celebrated, especially Brigid / Brid the maiden. Goddess of flame and water symbolizing strength, power and energy, the rivers and wells are sacred to her. Well dressing still goes on even if it is now classed as a Christian festival.

Married women traditionally on the ‘eve�?made a ‘brides bed�?from a sheaf of grain and rushes, decorating it in white fabric and ribbons, then,  would lay it on a bed of reeds and place a pine cone on one side to symbolize the phallic fertilising power of the god. It was placed next to the used fire hearth and the goddess invited to enter the bed, the next day the ashes were checked for a foot print or mark, this was proof the god had laid with her and so a fertile and prosperous new year would follow.

Brigid crosses were also made from reeds and straw.

Made in the form of a equal armed cross with a woven centre, these were a symbol  of new beginnings, the crosses were put up until next imbolic and then burned with the Yule greenery, dolls too were made in honour of the goddess kept up till Ostara, or till next Imbolic

Cleansing and purification also took place especially at sacred wells, it does still take place but the wells mainly were taken over and made Christian and dedicated to St brigid. But you will find that trees near these wells may still have pagan/Wicca visitors doing the tradition of scraps of fabric tied to them, this is known as a ‘wishing tree�?other offerings are flowers, plaited grasses any token but the best are those that can return to the earth, placed in hope of having a wish granted