Date: February 1 or 2
Other names: Imbolc, Brid's Day, Bride's Day, Brigid's Day,
Feast of Lights
Colors associated: White, Silver, Pale Yellow
Symbols: Candles, Brides, Children
Alignment: Female/Dark
Threshold: Midnight
Sacred Foods: Dried foods, preserved foods
Deities associated: Virgin or child Goddesses, Gods as
young men, Brgid, Epona, Danu
Incense: Mace, seaweed
This Sabbat honors the Goddess as she is awaiting the newly born God from Yule. There are those who decorate and make 'bride's beds', where they add the symbols of the Goddess and place them in their homes to honor her.
Another tradition is the lighting of candels withing a wreath, some countries still do this. A woman dresses as a bride and wears a wreath apon her head with a ring of lit candles in it. The candles are symbolic of the heat and light returning from the sun.
I had a friend who did this when I was very small. She was from Norway, and I remember her coming over to my house with this wreath on her head with lit candles on it. Her and I were only 8 at the time, but I still remember it clearly. She brought me a special cake to eat, and even did a little blessing on me. I never saw anything like this before, and I liked it! Thought I'd share a little bit of my history there...
At Imbolg, the Gods and Goddesses are still youthful, and carefree. They are waiting just as much as we are for the Springtime to arrive.
