As Autumnal is to Autumn, so Vernal is to Spring

Hello and Happy St. Brigid’s Day,

Saint Brigid is one of Ireland’s patron saints, along with Patrick and Colmcille, and the first of February is her feast day. This is for one simple reason, Brigid was adopted (or kidnapped depending on your perspective) by Christianity from earlier pagan beliefs in Ireland where the same date was the feast of Imbolc and Brigid was a goddess of healers, inspiration, and warfare. I’m impressed that unlike the Romans and Greeks (Mars and Ares) we had a female goddess of war.

Imbolc, falling roughly halfway between winter and summer solstices, marks the point in the year when plants began to regrow and spring begins in these parts. It’s one of the four key celebrations of the Irish pagan year, along with Bealtaine in May, Lughnasadh, and Samhain (adopted as Halloween), and is still celebrated by Wiccans today.

Wild Primroses

I watched the hedgerows and ditches closely today when out for my walk and Brigid had it right, regardless of which tradition you follow. The gorse is in bloom, wild primroses dotted the banks, and the green leaves of wild garlic, nettles, and more were sprouting forth. It may not feel like it yet, but spring has arrived in Ireland.

I’m sure you know the word autumnal for all things related to autumn (or the fall). But are you aware of brumal for winter, a selection of words for summer (including serotinal), and vernal for spring?

I’ve definitely encountered the vernal equinox before and now I understand why. It’s on the 20th of March this year, in case you’re wondering, and it marks the moment when the sun crosses the equator heading north, bringing astronomical spring to the Northern hemisphere, a full 48 days after Imbolc and Brigid. You can choose either of these dates (or the 1st of March) to declare spring is upon us, but the earlier the better in my opinion.

There are a couple of unusual vernal-like words in the older dictionaries that you might care to revive. We have vernate – “to wax young again” – which sounds like it might be fun and vernaculous “a young or green wit”. Hopefully I can achieve both of those during this vernal season.

We have the Romans to thank for vernal. It entered English in the 1500s from Late Latin vernalis (of the spring) and originally from Latin ver (spring) which also gave related words to Old Norse, Greek, Armenian, Sanskit, Persian etc. You’ll spot ver in verdant and vert(e) (green in French).

Until next time happy vernal reading, writing, and wordfooling,

Grace (@Wordfoolery)