Imbolc

Imbolc

Imbolc (IM-bulk, EM-bowlk, IM-mol'g) takes place February 1^st-February 2^nd

        Also known as Imbolg, Caldlemas, Bride's Day, Oimelc, Brid's Day, or St Brigid’s Day is a festival marking the beginning of Spring. It is most commonly celebrated on February 1^st or 2^nd, and falls halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.

        Imbolg means ‘in the belly/womb’ or ‘ewe’s milk’ and it is referring to the pregnant ewes (sheep) starting to milk. The holiday is a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring.

        Imbolc is the Sabbat which honors the Goddess as the waiting bride of the returning sun God. Before the Nordic influence, it was also the Sabbat in which the Celts saw the sun as being born anew. In Ireland it is a special day to honor the Goddess Brid in her guise of bride.

        People would often make grain dollies and dress them as brides. They would place these dollies in a honored place in their home, usually a special crib or bed called Bride’s Bed. These beds were decorated with flowers and nuts (and other symbols of male fertility).

         Candles are also lit on this day, usually in a wreath (A symbol of the Wheel of the Year) and the candles represent the heat and light of the returning sun.

         Many people celebrate Groundhog Day on February 2^nd. This holiday came about from the Gaelic tradition about the hag called the Cailleach. The hag of Gaelic tradition gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter on this day. Legend has it that if she intends to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people are generally relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over. This is where the tradition of seeing if the groundhog sees his shadow comes from. If the day is sunny and bright the groundhog will see his shadow and there will be 6 more weeks of winter.

        For many Wiccans, Imbolc is the traditional time for initiations. Many consider Imbolc to be a Woman’s festival because Imbolc is associated with the Wiccan Goddess Brigid.

Songs: Brighids Kiss, Gabhain Molta Bhride, Shepherd Moons, The Dark Night of the Soul, The Two Trees, As I Lay Me Down to Sleep, Raise Your Spirits, Goddess is Bringing Good Cheer.

Activities: Burning Candles, Burning the Greens from Yule (to symbolize sending winter on its way), The night before Place buttered bread outside for the traveling fairies, Cleanse yourself and your ritual space, Divination, Cleanse your house, Fire Scrying, Stone Gatherings, Snow Hiking and Searching for Signs of Spring, Feasting, Lighting Bonfires.

Foods: Breads, Grains, Onions, Potatoes, Milk, Lamb, Cabbage, Seeds, Cheese, Squash, Beets, Butter, Nuts, Ham, Rabbit, Goose, Poultry, Crab, Venison, Mussels, Sausage, Bread Pudding, Scallops, Cream, Custard, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, Peppers, Muffins, Scones, Raisins, Garlic, Spiced Wine, Herbal Tea.

Crafts: Make dream pillows, Make Brigid’s cross out of palm fronds, Make and decorate a Bride’s bed and place the corn doll you made at Lughnassadh into the bed dressed as Bride.

Colors: White, Silver, Pink, Pale Yellow, Red, Yellow, Light Green, Brown.

Symbols: Candles, Brides, Grain Dolly, Burrowing Animals, Ewes (Sheep), Plough, Purity, Growth, Re-Newal, Re-Union of the Goddess and the God, Fertility, Besoms, White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Brighid's Crosses, Priapic Wands.

Stones: Amethyst, Garnet, Bloodstone, Ruby, Turquoise, Onyx.

Herbs: Basil, Blackberry, Bay, Benzoin, Celandine, Angelica, Myrrh, Bay Laurel, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Tansy, Violets, all White Flowers, all Yellow Flowers.
Incense: Basil, Cinnamon, Bay, Wisteria, Violet, Myrrh, Vanilla.

Gods: Gods of Love and Fertility, Eros, Aengus Og, Februus.

Goddesses: All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brigid/ Brighid, Aradia, Inanna, Athena, Gaia, Februa.

If you'd like to see the bento I made for Imbolc, please check out m other blog.