No king could rule the Gaelic countryside without lying first at the side of 'Mebd'. This pagan rite was expected to rejuvenate the king, and the general fertility of the soil, men and cattle. One of these was expected to yield her virginity to the Ard Righ, or High King, at each festival of Samhainn (May 1). In ancient times, the kings of Tara kept a house of virgins who tended the sacred fires of Briid (the bride).
This legendary queen of the Tuatha daoine went to earth in western Ireland, beneath Cruachin, and was supposedly the sidh-spirit of sovereignty. Mabladh, hacking, maiming she was a noted warriorgoddess. mabach, entangled, confused, ravelled, fringed. MAB, to stutter, lisp, stammer, a tassel, a fringe, abuse, vilify, reproach in anger, affront mabag or babag, a short piece of yarn, a filthy female.
Totems are mintan, the titmouse and the colour mbracht, tartaned or parti-coloured.
