Imbolc - a day to celebrate Renewal and the Return of the Light

Imbolc is not a very well known day in today's world. Yes, we all know about the Solstices and Equinoxes. And they are certainly exciting. But my favorite - if I have to pick just one, is Imbolc, one of the cross-quarter holy days.

After several months of dark and cold weather, February 1/2 really does seem like a breath of fresh air. Also known as Brigid's Day, Feast of the Torches, Snowdrop Festival, Feast of Pan and Candlemas, it signifies the end of winter. The grip winter has on the earth and its inhabitants softens ever so slightly. And the earth is starting to wake up.

My brother and I used to love hunting for the first signs of snowdrops when we were growing up. Sometimes even peeking out of the snow drifts, they were the signs of hope, light and life. Of celebration and possibility.

These little gems are an especially welcome sight in climates where snow and ice dominate the darker months, announcing the coming of spring.

In Pagan traditions, the lengthening of days is synonymous with the growing powers of the Sun God. Seen either as an infant or a young boy, his power now grows each day. The Goddess - Earth - is also stirring, awakening after her rest and the birth of the Sun God. This is seen in the thawing of the earth, the melting of snow and ice, water flowing once again. Early spring flowers such as daffodils and crocuses are the first signs of color, brightening our days. Migratory birds are starting to return, and in my area, we start looking for Robins and always note when we spot the first one.

We may know this day also as Groundhog Day - but watching the weather at this time to predict how long winter would hold on is a long and time-honored tradition. In the Celtic Isles, the divine hag Cailleach would gather her last firewood. If her wish was to prolong winter, she would make this day bright and sunny as to enjoy a nice long day to gather fhr wood. If she decided to sleep through this day, gloomy and dark weather was to be found. This would signal to everyone that winter was coming to an end. Makes you take another look at the movie "Groundhog Day" in terms of weather divination, doesn't it!

Other cultures looked to hibernating animals and their behavior to predict the weather for the coming weeks. Scottish tribes spoke of Brighid's serpent testing the waters, so to speak. If it stayed above ground, winter was almost over. And of course the opposite was true as well. Germanic tribes watched the behavior of bears and badgers, and we translated this in later times to the groundhog.

Imbolc was also seen as the start of the coming growing season, both for crops and life stock. Plans are made on preparing the soil for crops, and some animals are ready to give birth. Equipment is being repaired, barns are being cleaned out, and rituals were held to bless tools and seeds. While we may not honor most of these traditions, we certainly feel the stirring when we we feel the need to do some spring cleaning. The name Imbolc comes from ancient Irish tradition - namely the word Oimelc" - which means "Ewe's milk". Milk was crucial to people at this time as food stores ran low after so many months.

Purification and cleaning were an important part of life during those times and are still time-honored tradition. After many months of many people and animals residing in closed quarters, purifying and cleansing were paramount to health and well-being. We still mimic this without even realizing when we start opening doors and windows at the first opportunity. Sunlight - a form of the sacred element of fire - was taken advantage at every opportunity. Carpets and blankets were taken outdoors to clean by beating them to rid them of dirt and debris and the exposure to sunlight.

Many traditions have their own celebrations, and we can build on those easily enough. Incorporating the sacred power of fire is easily done by lighting candles. This honors the return of the sun and if your weather is conducive, a bonfire is a great way to burn any left-over evergreens from Yuletide, Christmas or Winter Solstice celebrations.

Brighid, or Brigid, is the deity most associated with Imbolc in the Celtic and Wiccan traditions. A fire goddess, she is also associated with springs and holy wells, and therefore the sacred element of water. She also rules metal working, smithcraft, midwifery and crafting. She is also called the "Keeper of the Sacred Flame". Associated with the hearth and home, her sacred symbol was a cow. Cows traditionally are a symbol of motherhood and sustenance, especially important during those times when there were no supermarkets filled to the brim with anything anyone could desire.

People celebrated this time of year with special meals, inviting Brigid's presence by inviting her through the ritual of saving some of the food and drink and leaving it outside for her along with a strip of cloth.

Another custom was a doll made of straw which was carried from door to door so every household could make an offering.

The following day, the ashes in the hearth were inspected to see if the Goddess had entered the home, and the cloth would be brought inside and kept in a special place as it was now sacred and imbued with healing and protective properties.

Another symbol is Brighid's cross, woven from stalks of wheat and hung over the doors of homes and stables. This symbol can be found all over the world as a sign of protection. These crosses would be left hanging throughout the entire year and this tradition is still observed in some cultures to this day.

Brighid was so beloved that even the Christian Church turned her into a Saint and Imbolc became Candlemas - a day to make and bless candles for the coming year.

If you would like to honor this special time of year, here are some ideas:

Colors associated with Imbolc are white, yellow, pink and red. I love putting white and yellow flowers on my altar or my table. Flower choices may include snow drops, daffodils, violets or forsythia branches. Potted bulbs are another good choice.

You can also use these colors for candles to light.

Stones and crystals associated with this day are garnet, ruby, amethyst, onyx and bloodstone. But any stones signifying the sun, protection and purification can be used. I personally like citrine, rose quartz and amethyst. Those colors just make me happy. And of course I always have some black stones placed with them.

If you wish to make a special meal, foods you could include are pumpkin and sunflower seeds, early spring vegetables, poppy seed pastries and dairy products.

I hope you are now a bit excited about Imbolc. I have found that understanding our traditions and rituals and how they came about gives us a deeper appreciation and understanding of history, culture and traditions of our own ancestry and those of other peoples. I would love to hear of your celebrations!

Many blessings to you and yours.

Daniela