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Imbolc: Belly of the Mother & Groundhog Day
Imbolc is the point of the year that is halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox!
The official date of Imbolc is the evening of February 1st to the evening of February 2nd, so the celebrations straddle two days. It's a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring. Celebrations often involve hearthfires, special foods, divination, candles, or a bonfire if weather permitted. Lighting of candles and fires represent the return of warmth, and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months. This holiday was also marked by spring cleaning.
Imbolc was originally a pagan (pre-Christian) holiday that venerated the goddess Brigid. Plants called rushes would be made into a “Brigid’s cross”, and hung above entrances.
These crosses were to welcome Brigid, and invoke her protection against fire, lightning, illness and evil spirits. They would remain there until the next Imbolc.
This pagan holiday was Christianized, and Feb 1st became the feast day of Saint Brigid, which is celebrated to this day, as well as Candlemas, which is celebrated on February 2nd.
February 2nd is also a secular holiday in the US, known as Groundhog Day. It's the day when humans consult groundhogs to when Spring will finally arrive. Sounds like divination to me!
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By Aunt CarlaImbolc is the point of the year that is halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox!
The official date of Imbolc is the evening of February 1st to the evening of February 2nd, so the celebrations straddle two days. It's a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring. Celebrations often involve hearthfires, special foods, divination, candles, or a bonfire if weather permitted. Lighting of candles and fires represent the return of warmth, and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months. This holiday was also marked by spring cleaning.
Imbolc was originally a pagan (pre-Christian) holiday that venerated the goddess Brigid. Plants called rushes would be made into a “Brigid’s cross”, and hung above entrances.
These crosses were to welcome Brigid, and invoke her protection against fire, lightning, illness and evil spirits. They would remain there until the next Imbolc.
This pagan holiday was Christianized, and Feb 1st became the feast day of Saint Brigid, which is celebrated to this day, as well as Candlemas, which is celebrated on February 2nd.
February 2nd is also a secular holiday in the US, known as Groundhog Day. It's the day when humans consult groundhogs to when Spring will finally arrive. Sounds like divination to me!