There is a wonderful and oddly alcoholic prayer associated with St. Brigid from the 11th or 8th century or something:
I would like a great lake of ale, for the King of the Kings
I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts.
I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking it through all eternity.
Supposedly: in early spring, the pastures aren't really properly going yet. Sheep can handle this better than cattle, so the farmers allow the sheep to breed such that lambing comes before calves. Imbolc / Candlemas is thus when the ewes can be milked. And therefore... sheep's milk cheese1!
(Unsupported content elided by the Agora.)
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Would it be ready at Candlemas? No, but I challenge you to find unaged sheep's milk products at your local supermarket...↩
- public document at doc.anagora.org/candlemas
- video call at meet.jit.si/candlemas
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