Imbolc

Imbolc is the Celtic festival of light which celebrates the coming to an end of dark winter months and the beginning of Spring. It coincides with La Féile Bride, St. Brigid's Day, a Christian festival based on the ancient pagan celebration of the goddess Brigid, just as Candlemas, or Candelora in Italian, is based con Imbolc. Brigid is the Celtic goddess of poetry and wisdom, fertility, protection and crafts and is often associated with the Roman goddess Minerva. 

It was heartening to stumble across the Irish president's message from Uachtaran citing Brigid as an inspiration for Irish women: she had to summon up extraordinary courage in order to ensure her voice was heard in a male-dominated world. In her dedication to the realm of education she had to transcend obstacles in order to survive and put a "new version of things in place". Of course, any Irish person will know that there is good reason for the invocation of Brigid at this juncture in Irish governmental accountability, but still, I'm willing to give Michael D. the benefit of the doubt. 

It was also uplifting to stumble across this tree in the last few days. Almond blossom might be a more fitting symbol of spring here in Sicily, but this tree was a gift at the end of a laneway I still hadn't explored. On my way back, I found myself thinking of my children's future and wondering how long it would be before an Italian president would invoke the goddess Minerva in terms of equality and human rights. Especially since the two latest nominees for the Sicilian regional council elections are men, which would make for an all-male council, putting Sicily firmly last of Italy's regions in terms of gender-equality. 

Here in Sicily it is certainly time to put a new version of things in place.