Imbolc - Lá Féile Bríde 2026

St. Bridget

The Wild Geese will be flocking to a favourite nesting place - The Three Fiddles, Nerudova 12 this Sunday February 1, 2026 starting at 14.00 to commemorate Imbolc. Imbolc, the first of the year's eight Fire Festivals, was regarded by the earlier inhabitants of Ireland (thousands of years before the Celts) as the First Day of Spring. It was a day dedicated to the power of Womanhood. We will be commemorating the Feast with song, storytelling, recitations, recollections, starting with the kindling of the sacred flame and including practical sessions on how to weave the ancient rush symbols which went on to become the Cross of St Bridget.

We will learn when Imbolc was first celebrated and by whom (clue - it began over five thousand years ago), and cite examples of some of the many outstanding women who have contributed so much to our society in the intervening years down to the present day.

All, (of any age or sex) who consider themselves Wild Geese and their friends are welcome to join us.

Wild Geese Historical Society of Czechia. (www.wildgeese.cz)

p.s. On the 25th February the Wild Geese Society will be launching its publication of the researches carried out by a descendant of an earlier Wild Goose whose thrilling adventures in Bohemia can be argued to have influenced the course of the Thirty Years War which was concluded by a peace treaty in the town of Westphalia in 1648. The very first occasion in history when the nations and regions of Europe came together to hammer out a modus vivendi for the future. A European Union? The title is 'Searching for My Norman-Irish Ancestor' - authored by Josef Ryzec and edited by Louise Kelleher.