Blair Collection > Carmina gadelica > Volume 1

SEASONS 169
It is said in Ireland that Bride walked before Mary with a lighted candle in
each hand when she went up to the Temple for purification. The winds were
strong on the Temple heights, and the tapers were unprotected, yet they did not
flicker nor fail. From this incident Bride is called ' Bride boillsge,' Bride of
brightness. This day is occasionally called ' La Fheill Bride nan Coinnle,' the
Feast Day of Bride of the Candles, but more generally ' La Fheill Moire nan
Coinnle,' the Feast Day of Mary of the Candles — Candlemas Day.
The serpent is supposed to emerge from its hollow among the hills on St
Bride's Day, and a propitiatory hymn was sung to it. Only one verse of this
hymn has been obtained, apparently the first. It diflfers in ditfei-ent localities : —
' Moch maduinn Bhride, Early on Bride's morn
Thig an nirahir as an toll. The serpent shall come ft-om the hole,
Cha bhoin raise ris an nimhir, I wiU not molest the serpent,
Cha bhoin an nimliir rium.' Nor will the serpent molest me.
Other versions say : —
' La Feill na Bride, The Feast Day of the Bride,
Thig nighean Imhir as a chnoc. The daughterof Ivor shall come from the knoll,
Cha bhean mise do nighean I will not touch the daughter of Ivor,
'S cha dean i mo lochd.' [Imhir, Nor shall she harm me.
' La Fheill Bride brisgeanach On the Feast Day of Bride,
Thig an ceann de 'n chaiteanach. The head will come off the ' caiteanach,'
Thig nighean lomhair as an tom The daughter of Ivor will come from the knoll
Le fonn feadalaich.' With tuneful whistling.
' Thig an nathair as an toll The serpent will come from the hole
La donn Bride, On the brown Day of Bride,
Ged robh tri traighean dh' an Though there should be three feet of snow
Air leachd an lair.' [t-sneaehd On the flat surface of the ground.
The ' daughter of Ivor ' is the serpent ; and it is said that the serpent will
not sting a descendant of Ivor, he having made ' tabliar agus tuis,' offering and
incense, to it, thereby securing immunity from its sting for himself and his seed
for ever.
' La Bride nam brig ban On the day of Bride of the white hills
Thig an rigen ran a tom. The noble queen will come from the knoll,
Cha bhoin raise ris an rigen ran, I will not molest the noble queen,
'S cha bhoin an rigen ran rium.' Nor will the noble queen molest rae.
These lines would seem to point to serpent-worship. One of the most curious
customs of Bride's Day was the pounding of the serpent in effigy. The following
scene was described to the writer by one who was present : — ' I was one of
sevei'al guests in the hospitable house of Mr John Tolmie of Uignis, Skye. One