In many Wiccan traditions, Imbolc is celebrated as the point in the year when the Goddess recovers from giving Birth to the Sun. The young God grows from an infant to a child. It is a time when the growing light promises the return of springtime. The goddess, Brighid, is primarily worshiped because of her triple aspect as the patroness of smithcraft (fire associations), healing, and inspiration. Many Wiccan also tend to focus their rituals on the Maiden aspect of the goddess at this time as well.
Other Names: Imbolg, Oimelc, Candlemas, Feast of Brigid, Festival of Lights, Feast of Flames, Candlelaria, La Feill Bhride.
Symbols: Candles, the Bride, Burrowing Animals, Grain Dolly, Sun Wheels
Colors: White, Pink, Red, and Blue
Deity Types: God and Goddess as Children, Maiden Goddesses, Gods of Love and Fertility
Activities: Candle lighting, Searching for Signs of Spring, Gathering Stones
Taboos: none
Animals: Wolf, Snake, Swan, Vulture, Robin, Burrowing Animals, Sheep, Lamb, and Deer
Mythical Creatures: Firebird, Dragon, Berometz
Stones: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Onyx, and Turquoise.
Plants: Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers.
Deities: All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, and Februa, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.
Foods: Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, muffins, scones, and breads, all dairy products, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, and Raisins. Click here for Imbolc Recipes.
Drinks: Milk,
Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas.
Activities for Imbolc
Imbolc
LoreBrighit's
Day
Imbolc is also called
"Brigit's Day", in honor of the great Irish Goddess Brigit. At her shrine, the
ancient Irish capital of Kildare, a group of 19 priestesses (no men allowed)
kept a perpetual flame burning in her honor.
She was considered a goddess of fire, the patroness of smithcraft, poetry and
healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery). This tripartite symbolism
was occasionally expressed by saying that Brigit had two sisters, also named
Brigit. Another form of the name Brigit is Bride, and it is thus She bestows her
special patronage on any woman about to be married or handfasted, the woman
being called "bride" in her honor.
The Roman Catholic Church could not very easily call the Great Goddess of
Ireland a demon, so they canonized her instead. Henceforth, she would be "Saint"
Brigit, patron saint of smithcraft, poetry, and healing.
Brigit's holiday was chiefly marked by the kindling of sacred fires, since she
symbolized the fire of birth and healing, the fire of the forge, and the fire of
poetic inspiration. Bonfires were lighted on the beacon tors, and chandlers
celebrated their special holiday. The Roman Church was quick to confiscate this
symbolism as well, using "Candlemas" as the day to bless all the church candles
that would be used for the coming liturgical year.
The Catholic Church, never one to refrain from piling holiday upon holiday, also
called it the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is
surprising how many of the old Pagan holidays were converted to Mary Feasts. The
symbol of the Purification may seem a little obscure to modern readers, but it
has to do with the old custom of "churching women". It was believed that women
were impure for six weeks after giving birth. And since Mary gave birth at the
winter solstice, she wouldn't be purified until February 2nd. In Pagan
symbolism, this might be re-translated as when the Great Mother once again
becomes the Young Maiden Goddess.
LupercaliaA curious Imbolc festival of purification
known as Lupercalia was overseen by a class of priests known as the Luperci.
Here rites of purification and symbolic fertility were interwoven. The Luperci
took strips of goat skin and raced in the nude from the legendary grotto where
Romulus and Remus were suckled by a wolf and along the Via Sacra, laying the
lash across the backs or buttocks of any women they encountered in passing, thus
assuring them fertility.
There are two legends explaining the origins of this rite. The first recounts
that Romulus and Remus, after the victory over Amulio, removed their encumbering
clothing and raced each other exultant to the site where the she-wolf had
suckled them as children.
The second legend states that after the rape of the Sabine women, the raped
wives were left sterile. The men and women then went to pray for a cure in a
forest consecrated to Juno. Her voice sounded in the rustling leaves, replying
that the Sabine wives must be joined with a sacred goat.
Everyone was dismayed at the thought of such a joining. An Etruscan soothsayer
solved the dilemma by sacrificing a goat to Juno and making leather straps from
its skin. He ordered the young wives to offer themselves to the penetrating
blows of the straps. The women complied with the dictates of the goddess and
thereby overcame the infertility curse.
Many
Wiccans call Imbolc by the name Candlemas. Candlemas involves celebrations of
banishing the winter and welcoming the spring. At the time of Candlemas, the
new-born Sun God is seen as a small child nursing from his Mother. At this phase
of the cycle, winter is swept away and new beginnings are nurtured.
In the seventh century, the Roman Church adopted a celebration known as the
Festival of St. Simon. The date was changed to February 2 in hopes of putting an
end to the rival Pagan celebrations.
February 2 became the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. This time was then
known as Candelora or Candlemas because people were blessed by candles
distributed to the faithful by the Church. These candles were believed to
possess protective virtues against calamities, storms, and the agony of death.
The Maiden is honored, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo'gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterwards at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen.
In America, Groundhog's Day is celebrated
on February 2nd. Groundhog's Day is basically a weather divination ritual. If
the day is sunny, the Groundhog will see his shadow and for some reason be
frightened by it, returning to his hole to sleep for 6 more weeks until the
Spring Equinox, as we endure an extended winter. If it's cloudy, however, he
won't receive the fright and we are due for an early spring.
European folklore attributes this weather-forecasting ability to not only the
groundhog, but the bear and the badger, too. And a similar tradition -- where
snow and overcast skies signal an early end to winter -- is observed in northern
Europe on Candlemas Day, which also falls on February 2 and in some areas marks
the beginning of spring planting.
This custom is ancient. An old British rhyme tells us that "If Candlemas Day be
bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year."
Actually, all of the cross-quarter days can be used as "inverse" weather
predictors, whereas the quarter- days are used as "direct" weather predictors.
In ancient Rome, February was a period of
passage signaling the end of the old year ear and the prelude of the birth of
the new year. February was sacred to the Roman goddess Februa and her consort
Februus, who were deities of purification and death. February focused upon
expiation of the souls of the dead, as well as personal, spiritual, and
physical.
At the Calenda of February one celebrated the dedication of her temple on the
Palatine Hill with a procession of torches. By the seventh century, Rome created
a Christian festival of night time processions with candles from every parish,
intended as a penitential procession to exorcise a resurgent licentious and
carnal Pagan parade.
On Imbolg night, it is also said that the spirits of the dead walk among the
living. The connection of the dead and themes of death within the Roman
celebration of February never disappeared, even in the distant conquered
territories of the Roman Empire. The Full Moon following this month begins the
time of self purification known as Lent. This is a remnant of the old rites of
February.
For modern Witches, candles can be anointed with a scented oil. Sit in front of
the candle and meditate on what is both desirable and undesirable in your life
and in your heart. Affirm that you will nurture the good and dissuade the bad.
