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There
are eight main Celtic Festivals - earth's natural calendar,
the cycles
of Nature
- recognised by Celts, Pagans and Wiccans as sabbats : Samhain, Midwinter Solstice/Yule, Imbolc, Spring/Vernal
Equinox, Beltane, Midsummer solstice, Lammas and the
Autumn Equinox
The changes in the seasons reflect our lives - changing
through birth, maturity, old age and death.
Feb
1st/2nd
Imbolc is raditionally
regarded as the first day of Spring. Life
is beginning to stir again.
The
Celtic festival of Imbolc or Imbolg -
pronounced without the 'b' sound - is sometimes
known as Oimelc, means 'ewe's
milk' - named due to the birth of the first lambs
at this time, and celebrates the return of
fresh milk.
Sheep are earlier with their offspring than cattle, because they could
crop lower for grass and so thrive on the sparse vegetation in late winter.
Cattle would calf around March.
Bulbs are beginning to shoot and new lambs are born - the
cycle of new life returns to the earth. Imbolc marks the
rebirth of nature and fertility. It
is the celebration of the gradual dawning of increasing light, bringing
nature to life again. Nature
is awakening from her winter rest - the
long winter darkness begins to break as the daylight hours begin to get
longer. Christians celebrate
this festival as Candlemas. |
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Imbolc
focuses on the Goddess, both as Mother - as she gave birth to
the Sun God at the Winter solstice, and as the Maiden. Brigit
was originally considered a form of the Triple Goddess.
Imbolc is a feast
dedicated to the Goddess in her maiden aspect,
in her guise as Brigid, Bridget,
Bride, Brighid, Brigit or Brig - goddess
of learning, poetry, prophesying, craftmanship,
agriculture and healing. Imbolc
is considered a traditional healing time and
it is a good time to consider ways to improve
your health.
Brigid is the virgin goddess who brings new life to the earth. She
is known as Bride in Scotland - pronounced Breed - which is the origin
of the word 'bride'. Imbolc is also known as Bride's Day. She
was christianised as St. Bridget of Kildare, the patroness of sheep and
fertility, and she was also known as the 'Mother of Ireland'.
Briget's Cross is woven from corn and consists of four arms that meet
to form a square centre - a fire wheel.
Traditionally, on this day candlelit processions were led to St. Bridget's
holy shrines - wells.
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Imbolc
is a 'fire festival'. particular
attention was paid to the hearth fire and
keeping it alight.
A celebratory dish used to be made from the new lambs' docked tails.
Bridie dolls are made out of a sheaf of oats and dressed in women's clothing,
and then ritually buried in the earth as a fertility rite. Another custom
was to place the doll in a 'Bride’s bed' of woven wheat, like a
basket, which was placed near the front door, or sometimes near the hearth.
A white candle was burnt nearby all night.
Spring cleaning comes from the habit at Imbolc of getting rid of unwanted
clutter and
preparing for the new season, physically and mentally.
Now
is the time to finish old habits and make a fresh start, and realise
the world is full of new opportunities.
Imbolc is a time of optimism and for making new plans for the sunny days
ahead. Plant the seeds of your plans now and tend them so they mature
into your hopes and dreams. Now is the time to renew your New Year resolutions.
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