Hello Everyone! With Imbolc quickly approaching and the sun slowly returning to us I figured now was a great time to share some info on what Imbolc is and how to best celebrate!
What Is Imbolc?
Imbolc (pronounced IM-bolg or IM-bolk) is Old Irish for “in the belly.” It’s also known as Oimelc, Lady Day, and, in Christianity, Candlemas or St. Brigid’s Day. Traditionally, Imbolc represents the beginning of spring and the time when the first lambs are born. It’s the time of the year associated with pregnancy, and is the time to honor the fertility goddess Brigid.
As the days lengthen bit by bit. Imbolc is around the time this change really starts to show. The end of the day has noticeably more light, even though the trees and grass are still in winter’s grip.
The divine spark that was born in midwinter is growing, and nature is beginning to wake up. Remember the intentions for the new year you made? Now is the time to clear the way for them to grow, symbolically, and maybe literally!
Who Is Brigid?
The goddess Brigid (pronounced Breed or Breej) was the daughter of Dagda, the oldest god in the Tuatha dé Danann or Celtic pantheon. Brigid is a fertility goddess. She rules the fire of the hearth as well as the fire of imagination through poetry. She also blessed other skills that required the use of fire, like blacksmithing.
When Christianity came to Ireland, Brigid became Saint Brigid, complete with a human history beginning around 450 A.D. in Kildare, Ireland. As a saint, she was known for feeding the poor and healing the sick. A perpetual flame that was tended for centuries by pagan priestesses, and later, by Brigidine nuns, burns in the town square of Kildare.
How Do We Celebrate Imbolc Today?
Modern pagan Imbolc celebrations include activities to celebrate the coming spring and engage energetically with the cycle of the year.
Fire is still a strong component of the holiday. In Marsden, Ireland, there is a large annual fire festival. In Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, Cunningham writes that it’s traditional to light a candle in every room in the home or to light every lamp in the house just after sunset “to honor the sun’s rebirth.”
Plant seeds. If you set an intention at the Yule, the winter solstice, get a couple seed packets and hold them in your hands, focusing the same intention into the seeds. Then plant the seeds in a small pot with soil and make sure to water frequently. The reminder to nurture your intentions will help them grow.
Make Brigid dollies or Brigid crosses to protect the home.
Bake oatcakes and leave milk outside for Brigid on Imbolc eve.
Decorate your altar with colors and symbols related to Imbolc.
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