Imbolc is a holiday sacred to the goddess Brigid in her maiden aspect. Brigid is a highly influential goddess holding sway over subjects as diverse as blacksmithing, poetry, the hearth, and childbirth. It is explained that Brigid is a name shared by three sisters who act almost as a triple goddess. Important to the discussion of Imbolc, Brigid is often associated with cattle, milking, fertility, and the return of spring. (I have written an essay discussing the goddess Brigid and the saint Brigit, who where one and the same. You may wish to take a moment and read it.)

The word "imbolc" literally translates as "in the belly." This is a reference to the season of spring, which shall soon be born. Although February is considered a cold winter month, the seeds within the soil are at this time beginning to awaken and grow. This parallels the growth of the animals still in the womb who will be born later in the year. Oimelc is an alternative title for Imbolc and means, "in milk." This is a reference to the lactation of ewes and cows, which begins in February. Geese being to lay eggs in the month of February and although it does little for the temperature, it is easy to feel the returning strength of the sun. It are these indications of the end of winter that make Imbolc a festival of celebrating spring.

Imbolc begins on February second and hence is very close to the beginning of the Roman festival of the Nones on February fifth, which marked the beginning of spring on the Roman calendar. Since the Romans consider winter to be the last season of the year and spring to be the first, the Nones marked the New Year and where considered a time to clean old scores and to consider new endeavors.

The Nones and the month of February where seen as a time of cleansing; the month February comes from the Latin word for purification. This goes well with the theme that Candlemas latter embodied as a celebration of the purification of Mary (woman where considered to be impure for six weeks after giving birth). It was this month that homes where given a good "spring cleaning" and where then sprinkled with salt and wheat.

The first two weeks of February where known to the Romans as Lupercalia and where dedicated to Lupercus, god of agriculture, and Venus, goddess of passion and fertility. It marked the ending of the odd time between December, the end of the year before, and March, the beginning of the next year. It featured parties, parades, and bonfires.

Lupercalia and the Nones both ended midway through February, on the fourteenth. Most of you will note that this is the date of Valentine's Day. Many people believe it likely that Valentine's Day was originally called Gallantine's Day. The word gallantine would have been pronounced as beginning with a "v" in old France. Just looking at the word gallantine suggests its English translation of "Gallant." This English word originally had a meaning that has now become a secondary definition of "chivalrously attentive to women; also dashingly amorous. (This explanation is much simpler than attempting to explain how the stout Saint Valentine of the Catholic Church managed to become involved in a holiday that celebrates romance and desire).

The modern Imbolc takes on most of these rules, but is also considered to be a festival of fire. It is an obvious welcome to the returning sun and heat as well as a celebration dedicated to Brigid, who is the goddess of fire. On the night of Imbolc, bonfires used to light the hills and the daytime was filled with the praise of chandlers. It was this theme that the Catholic Church latched onto for their celebration of Candlemas.

(Twentieth century North America also has its own holiday on February second. If you are entersted in reading about Groundhog Day, I have written on short essay about it. )

There are many customs associated with Imbolc. My favorite is what I think of as "The Lighting." This is accomplished by placing a lit candle in every window and allowing them to burn either until morning or until they burn out. Of course, if you live in a house full of brave felines, you may want to douse any candle you can no longer watch or use electric candles, or even electric lamps, in their place.

Obviously, Imbolc is a terrific day for making candles. A Crown of Lights is sometimes constructed to be worn by a group's High Priestess at this time by fastening candles to a cornet. In old Europe many people would spend Imbolc making candles from the animal fat collected during the winter. These candles would usually last all year and where considered to be lucky. This is one of the Imbolc traditions adopted by the Catholic Church.

Still on the theme of burning things, now is a good time to gather any of the greens from your Yuletide season that you still have laying about. These things should be added to the bonfire for luck and to help in the banishment of winter. Think about the cold and then think about welcoming back the warmth and the sun while these burn.

There is an old Scottish tradition of feeding the last ear of last harvest's corn to the livestock on this day. In modern days, most people do not own livestock so the tradition has turned to burning the corn dollies that many witches construct for the autumn festivals.

In honour of Brigid and the sun, you may want to consider weaving a "Brigid's Cross." As pictured above, a cross of Brigid is woven from straw into a symbol of the sun. Such crosses are said to provide protection when hung about the house for the next year. (If you're like me, you may need a bit of help with this. Look here.)

In the same spirit in which the sun is being reborn, Imbolc is considered a proper time for initiations, purification's, moving on from the past, and reflecting on yourself.

As a token to fertility, it is customary to make an offering of milk to the earth. This is usually accomplished by pouring milk onto the ground or by sprinkling it onto the threshold. (I shall assume that other activities undertaken in the spirit of the fertility aspect of this holiday do not need to be discussed in detail in this essay.)

Colours associated with Imbolc include lavender, white, and pink. A sampling of Imbolc herbs would be heliotrope, carnation, poppy, basil, and violet. Amethyst and jet are the stones of the holiday.

If you do not wish to read the essay on Grounghod Day or the essay on Brigid, then feel free to return to either my holiday page or my main page.