St Brigid's Day / Imbolc Irish Phrases
Lá Fhéile Bríde
St Brigid's Day / Imbolc is called "Lá Fhéile Bríde" in Irish and is celebrated on 1 February. The greeting is "Lá Fhéile Bríde sona duit!" (Happy St Brigid's Day!).
St Brigid's Day marks the beginning of spring in the old Irish calendar. Since 2023, it's an official public holiday in Ireland — the first new public holiday in nearly 50 years. Here are the Irish phrases for Imbolc and Lá Fhéile Bríde.
Essential phrases
Lá Fhéile Bríde sona duit!
Happy St Brigid's Day!
The greeting for Ireland's newest public holiday
Beannachtaí na hImbolc
Imbolc blessings
Acknowledging the ancient festival behind the day
Tá an t-earrach ag teacht
Spring is coming
The promise of Imbolc
Cros Bríde
St Brigid's cross
The iconic woven cross made from rushes
Go gcuire Dia an t-ádh ort
May God bring you luck
A traditional blessing for the new season
Brat Bríde
Brigid's mantle/cloak
Left outside on the eve to receive her blessing
Imbolc — leath an gheimhridh amach
Imbolc — half of winter gone
Traditional saying marking the turning point
Tá na laethanta ag dul i bhfad
The days are getting longer
The welcome change that Imbolc brings
Gabh mo bhuíochas le Bríd
Give my thanks to Brigid
Invoking the saint/goddess
Nollaig na mBan
Women's Christmas (6 January)
The earlier celebration honouring women, linked to Brigid traditions
The history of Lá Fhéile Bríde
Imbolc is one of the four great Celtic seasonal festivals, marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It became associated with St Brigid — a figure who bridges pre-Christian Ireland and early Christianity. The tradition of making St Brigid's crosses from rushes continues today, and the new public holiday has revived interest in the festival.
Further reading
Go beyond the phrases
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