St. Brigid's Day: Supporting Your Body Through Seasonal Transitions

I've been noticing something lately. The light. It's staying just a bit longer each evening now. Not dramatically, but when I'm resting after dinner, there's still a faint glow through the window. That feels like something worth paying attention to.

January had its moments, didn't it? The rain seemed never-ending. Getting out of bed in the cold mornings felt like a negotiation. Those afternoons where you realise you've barely seen daylight. Nothing dramatic, just a lot of grey.

But this week feels different. Maybe it's knowing February starts Sunday. Maybe it's my body registering those extra minutes of daylight. Whatever it is, I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about the month ahead.

Why Seasonal Transitions Affect Your Nervous System

There's actual science behind why we feel different as seasons shift. Your body's internal clock, called your circadian rhythm, relies on natural light to regulate everything from sleep patterns to hormone production.

Research published in Translational Psychiatry shows that seasonal changes directly affect neurotransmitter levels in your brain. Serotonin, your mood-regulating brain chemical, naturally drops during shorter winter days and increases with longer daylight hours. This isn't just about Seasonal Affective Disorder. Studies show that most people experience some degree of seasonal mood variation, even without clinical diagnosis.

Your body also adjusts melatonin production based on light exposure. During winter's darker months, melatonin levels can remain elevated longer, affecting your energy and motivation. As daylight extends in late winter and early spring, your nervous system needs time to recalibrate to these new patterns.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, this adjustment period affects not just mood, but cognitive function, appetite, sleep quality, and social behaviour. It's why February can feel like such a transitional month. Your body is literally adapting to new patterns.

The Ancient Irish Festival of Imbolc

Sunday Feb 1st is St. Brigid's Day, Ireland's newest bank holiday and the first to celebrate a woman. It's one of those ancient festivals that marks winter turning toward spring. The Celts called it Imbolc, meaning "in the belly" in Old Irish, referring to the pregnancy of ewes and the promise of new life.

Imbolc falls halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox, one of four major Gaelic seasonal festivals alongside Bealtaine, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. For centuries, Irish people have marked February 1st with traditions that honour both seasonal change and the figure of Brigid herself.

Who Was Brigid?

Since moving to Ireland, the story of Brigid had always fascinated me. Before Christianity reached Ireland, Brigid was a powerful Celtic goddess associated with healing, poetry, fertility, and wisdom. When Ireland became Christian, St. Brigid of Kildare emerged as one of the country's three patron saints, and many of the goddess's attributes carried forward.

Whether you see her as goddess, saint, or both, Brigid represents something that feels deeply relevant. She was known for healing, protection, and wisdom. Not the loud, dramatic kind. The quiet, sustaining kind that helps you keep going when life gets busy.

The Connection Between BRÍ and Brigid

When Glenn and I were choosing a name for this company, we kept coming back to that Irish word. Brí. Strength and vigour. Not transformation. Just steady resilience.

That feels fitting right now. January happened. We all moved through it. And now February is here with its slightly longer evenings and that subtle promise of spring.

Supporting Your Nervous System Through Seasonal Shifts

Your body is remarkably adaptable, but you can support it through these natural transitions:

Get morning light exposure. Even 10-15 minutes of natural daylight within an hour of waking helps regulate your internal clock and boost serotonin production.

Maintain consistent sleep patterns. Your circadian rhythm thrives on routine, even when daylight hours are changing.

Support with nutrition. Magnesium plays a role in nervous system function and helps regulate your stress response. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids support brain health during seasonal transitions.

Consider adaptogenic support. Ingredients like Ashwagandha and Rhodiola have traditionally been used to help the body adapt to stress, including the physiological stress of seasonal change.

Move your body gently. Physical activity supports neurotransmitter production and helps your body adjust to new seasonal rhythms.

Irish Traditions for St. Brigid's Day

If you're looking for ways to mark the day, traditional practices include:

• Weaving St. Brigid's crosses from rushes or reeds, hung over doorways for protection and blessing
• Visiting holy wells associated with Brigid, particularly in Kildare
• Leaving cloth outside on St. Brigid's Eve (January 31st) to be blessed with healing properties
• Spring cleaning rituals to prepare homes for the new season
• Sharing special meals with family and community

Many Irish towns now host festivals and events celebrating both the cultural and spiritual significance of the day.

Looking Forward

I think what draws me to St. Brigid's story is how it acknowledges both the difficulty and the hope. The recognition that winter is hard. That transitions take time. That we need support, not transformation.

As the evenings stretch and spring edges closer, there's something powerful about having a cultural tradition that marks this moment. Not demanding that we suddenly be different, but acknowledging that change is happening, slowly and naturally.

So here's to whatever quiet strength is carrying you into this new month. To longer evenings and the knowledge that your body knows how to navigate these shifts, even when it doesn't feel easy.

Mind yourself.

Explore BRÍ Calm for nervous system support through seasonal transitions. Our formula combines L-Theanine, KSM-66® Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, and Magnesium bisglycinate to support stress balance and resilience. Shop BRÍ Calm →

Sources:

• Nature: "Seasonality of brain function: role in psychiatric disorders" - Translational Psychiatry, 2023
• National Institute of Mental Health: "Seasonal Affective Disorder"
• Mayo Clinic: "Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)"
• Irish Central: "The enduring traditions of St. Brigid's Day"