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| Imbolc February 2nd Imbolc (pronounced 'Im-bulk' or 'Im-molk'), also known as 'Imbolg ('Im-bulg'), Oimelc, Brighid's Day, St. Brigid's Day and Candlemas, is the first spring festival. Its also the time when sheep and herd animals began to give birth. Its believed the name derives from the Gaelic word "oimelc" meaning "ewes milk” and Imbolc means “in the belly.” Milk was beginning to flow and the first animals were being born in the year. A lot Celts and other peoples made their living from herding animals, like sheep and cows, so the milk was a source of nourishemnt to the peopel when food was scarce. Even though here in North America the temperatures are still freezing and snow covers the ground, there is still the promise of spring to come. Its a good idea to celebrate Imbolc closer to the srping thaw, when the snow and ice is beginning to melt and the first crocus' spring forth from the thawing ground. |
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| The sun was reborn at Yule, but still needs to gain strength untill spring when its ready to warm the earth. Soon birds will begin to start nesting and animals will come out of hibernation. New growth is still burried in the earth, but we start to prepare for the spring months. The ancient pagans would start to ready their farming equipments for the coming spring and summer months, and the fishermen would prepare their gear for the spring. For them it was a time of preparation and readiness. Winter was a harsh time for these pastorial people, often times they ran out of food or had other complications during the winter, so they looked forward to spring when life would return to the earth. |
| This is a time of renewal in our lives. We can symbolically cleanse ourselves and our homes to make room for ‘fertility’ and progress. One thing we do is take down and burn the evergreens of Yule to symbolically cast away winter. We can bless and claense seeds at our altar that we plan on planting in spring, as well as bless our gardening tools. Its a times to start visualizing warmer months and life returning to the land. We should throw away any useless things in our life - so a bit of spring cleaning around the house. Get rid of any thing holding you back from progressing this year, whether it be projects that were never finished, bad habits, people who hinder your personal growth or even a job thats taking you nowhere. This is a time of new beginnings. The Goddess has moved from her Crone aspect (at Yule) to the Maiden stage starting at Imbolc. From now untill Ostara (Spring Equinox) she will rule. She is young and spontaneous - she awakens the earth and readies it for growth. The Goddess is Brighid, also called Brigid, Brigit, Bride, and Brigid (pronounced 'Breed'). She is the Bride waiting for her lover, the Sun God to return. Brighid was an Irish Goddess who was turned into a saint by the early Christians. The festival itself was give a Christian version, called Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary. Law required a women to be purified 40 days after the birth of a son, and 80 days after the birth of a daughter, so this was the date when Mary took baby Jesus to the temple (40 days after Christmas). During this time candles were taken to the church to be blessed by the priests. Brighid is a goddess of healing, poetry, motherhood, smithcraft, the hearth and home, inspiration, and fertility. She is a very old Goddess, meaning she has been around for thousands of years (in many guises). There are hardly any records of her myths and lore, probably because the people of that time hardly wrote those things down. With the coming of Christiatity, her myths and legends were ‘borrowed’ and woven into a new person, St. Brighid the abbess of Kildare who tended a sacred flame. The Goddess Brighid is often seen as a triple Goddess and her name means “Bright One.” She has been described as holding a spear and an orb in some references, and in others as wearing a cloak and riding a cow. |
| One activity that has been preserved through the centuries is the Brighid’s Bed. This was a welcoming ritual where a dorn dolly ( could be the same doll made at Lughnasadh) representing Brighid was dressed in a white dress and laid in a bed or cradle made from rushes, grains, and/or straw. By welcoming herinto your home, you welcome everything she represents into your life. A priapic wand was laid beside her (wand with an acorn or pinecone tip) representing the God and candles were lit to symbolize the returning warmth to the earth. In some traditions she was processed around the village or given food, like milk, butter and bread. When the day has passed, you can place the doll somewhere in the house or on the front door to bring good luck and prosperity. Likewise, you can place her in a field or your garden in the spring. Another symbol is a Brighid Cross, which is a symbol of good luck and protection. These equal armed crosses can be made from corn sheaths or wheat or straw, just as the corn dolly is. Another thing you can do is light candles to urge the earth to warm up, and to lead Brighid to your home. |
| Symbols of Imbolc: Snow Crocus Colors - White and Red (white for the snow, red for the hearth fire and birthing blood for the sheep and cows, sybolizing fertility) Cows and sheep Water and wells - Brighid has sacred wells around Europe Bridhid Cross - symbolizing the sun Candles and fire - Symbolizing warmth returing to the earth. White food - can be eaten at the feast Herbs of Imbolc: Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers. Imbolc Recipes Imbolc Activities Bless seeds for spring planting Make a Brighid's Bed Make Brighid's Crosses and give them to friends for good luck through the year Leave milk and buttered bread by the door for Brighid Light a Candle to welcome the return of fertility to the earth Decorate the altar in red and white Do a spritual cleansing of yourself and your home Burn the Yule greens to send winter away, and take down any decorations from Yule Make a Priapic wand and run outside with it pointing to plants and trees to awaken them (hehe, good for children) For more activities, see here Sources: The Magickal Year: A Pagan Perspective on the Natural World by Diana Ferguson Ancient Ways: reclaiming Pagan Traditions by Pauline Campanelli Candlemas: Feast of Flames by Amber K and Azrael Arynn K |