Imbolg/Imbolc is an ancient celtic festival that celebrates spring. The term means, in the belly of the mother because the seeds of spring are beginning to stir in mother earth. Around this time many herd animals give birth to their first offspring of the year.
Like Jewish festivals it begins in the evening. Reportedly, the reason being that god created night then he created day, so night came before day. It is also St Brigids day, a patron saint of Ireland. Brigid, born 451-525 was reportedly born into slavery. She was born the child of a celtic slave Christian mother and a pagan chieftain of Leinster.
The church offered a home and education to freed slaves, when freed, like saint Martin (1579-1639) who was said to be born in similar circumstances, Brigid joined the church. She is the patron saint of dairy production. She became an abbess or mother superior in an important convent in Ireland and founded several convents.
One story is that Martin de Porres Velázquez’s mother was Zimbabwen, his father was a spanish nobleman. He was born in Lima, Peru. He is the patron saint of racial harmony and much loved in Ireland. He was a vegetarian. Some of his achievements were the establishment of an orphanage and a children’s hospital. He is remembered for his kindness, his nursing of the sick, his obedience and his charity.