Pagan Holidays - Imbolc
Imbolc (pronounced 'Im-molc') is observed by most Pagans on February 1st or 2nd
It is also known as: Imbolg, Imbolgc brigantia, Oimelc, Candlemas, Lupercus,
as well as Festival of lights, Bear day, Brigits Day, Saint Brigids Day, Festival of Purification and Disting!
This Pagan holiday, is one of the four (4) Greater Sabbats also known as the Festival of Lights.
It heralds the beginning of spring, and the ending of the dark half of the year, when we finally
begin to move into the light half of the year.
Even though Imbolc occurs at the coldest and bleakest time of year, when spring seems far
away, it marks the time when the days become noticably longer and beneath the snow, ice,
and frozen ground, unbidden, life begins to stir in the earth from the depths of winter.
Imbolc was very important to our ancestors as it would give hope that their communities would survive another year.
Their farm animals would begin to give birth, and cows and ewes (lambs) would begin to produce milk,
Geese would began to lay eggs. Before this time of year, food would become very scarce, and such gifts from the Goddess
were necessary to get thru the rest of the winter. Imbolc means "in the belly" and Oimelc refers to "Ewes milk".
For the modern Pagan, Imblic is still a time for rebirth, renewal, refreshing, purification, cleaning out the old
and preparing for the new. It is an early ' spring cleaning' and brings new hope, new growth, new beginnings.
During the Imbolc ritual it is customary to pour milk (or cream) onto the earth.
This is done as an offering in the return of life and fertility as well as the generosity of the earth to its people (the return of Spring).
Imbolc is the holiday in which we honor Brid (pronounced 'breed'), who is also known as Brigid, Brigit, or Bride, in her maiden aspect.
Brid is the daughter of Dagda (the good God). Brid is the Protector and Preserver, to protect, nurture, and encourage fruitfulness of the land.
For the land is the source and foundation of all life.
Imbolc is also a fire festival, with significance placed upon the Light of fire.
As many candles as possible are lit now, to symbolize the coming of the new light.
(The Roman Catholic church, during the early times when they were trying to recruit the Pagan people to Chrisitanity, took this holiday,
and its symbolism, and created the new Christian holiday, Candlemas, also celebrated on Feb 2nd, which was a day to bless all candles)
Another important aspect of Imbolc revolves around cleansing and purification.
This may have come from our Pagan ancestors back when they used to sleep on straw and often had their barnyard animals living in their house with them during the cold winter months.
Between Yule and the Vernal Equinox, they would assess how were doing with the hay to feed their livestock, and also provide themselves with bedding. If they figured they had enough to get thru till spring, they would than take the old hay
outside and burn it, and clean out their houses. This was a literal act of purification and cleansing.
It may be one of the reasons why spring cleaning is associated with this holiday, and why many Pagans burn their greens from Yule
at this time. It is also a symbolic way, of letting go of the old, to make way, for the new.
Many Wiccans cleanse and consecrate their tools at this time.
This is not only a time, for physical purification,
but can be used for personal, spiritual purification and cleansing. It can be a time for fasting, not only, to clean out ones physical system, but also in rememberance of the times, when food was scarce.
It can also be a time for putting ones personal business in order, to ask for forgiveness, and for forgiving oneself. A time to take inventory of relationships and jobs, a time of letting go of people and material possessions, that no longer
serve our spiritual needs.
During the time before Imbolc, one may experience the feeling of
"waiting alone in the dark"
A time that may appear to be passive, but
unseemingly, it is really an active time.
It's activity is about getting ready to "awaken",
the potential for action, a time for preparation, for freeing oneself, and letting go.
It is a time of hope for the future.
Some other customs of the holiday include:
Weaving "Brigits Crosses" from straw or wheat,
to hang as protection in the house, performing
rites of spiritual purification, making "Brigits beds"
to ensure fertility of the mind, body and spirit, and making "crowns of light" to welcome back the light to the wheel of the year.
Some ideas for the celebration of Imbolc:
• Spring clean and smudge your house.
• Cleanse and purify your tools and your soul
• Prepare a new project.
• Light an Imbolc fire at Sunset
• Go for a walk outside, before sunset, and look for signs of spring
• Scatter food for the animals and birds outside
(this is a scarce time of year for them)
• Decorate your house with red table/ altar cloth
and the flowers that will be coming in the spring.
• Bless your seeds to be planted in pots at Ostara.
• Use cream, milk, butter, and cheese, to cook for your Imbolc feast
Magick for Imbolc includes lighting candles as this is symbolic for lighting the way in the dark to lure back the light.
You can also carve your hopes for the coming spring, with symbols or words, on white candles and let them burn to release your wishes to the Universe.
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