In Celtic mythology, Brigid – sometimes known as ‘Bride’ in Scotland – is the goddess of healing, poetry, smithcraft, and childbirth. Myths and stories of her power, goodness and compassion have existed for centuries, and she is still celebrated as both a saint and a goddess around the world.
The celebration of Bride in February is about hospitality and healing; traditionally the time to look ahead to spring coming and lifting the gloom of January and the Scottish Storytelling Centre hosts two events honouring Brigid as both goddess and saint.
On Fri 29 Jan, singer and storyteller Susanna Orr Holland will be joined by storyteller Kate Walker and violinist Morag Brown in Remembering Brigid – a unique ceilidh combining Gaelic and English folk songs, rhymes and stories.
The three performers each bring different influences and experiences to the table, from Balkan music and Indian ragas to traditional Scottish storytelling, while the show itself blends research from old text with modern sounds. This is a unique and fascinating take on an ancient cultural icon, renewing the stories and songs that were once an integral part of Gaelic culture.
The following week, Mairi Campbell hosts another fantastic Campbell’s Ceilidh, this time with a focus on the Brigid tales. Winner of Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2015 Scots Trad Music Awards, Mairi will perform and lead participants in a range of activities, ranging from stories and poems to step dancing and harmony singing. No experience is required, but all are welcome to join in this celebration of one of Celtic mythology’s most iconic female characters on Tue 2 Feb.
See more upcoming events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in our Jan-Mar programme.
