Imbolc

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Imbolc, also known/celebrated as Imbolg, Oimelc, Candlemas, (St) Brigid's Day, Groundhog Day, and the Festival of Nut, takes place on or near the 1st/2nd of February and is a festival marking a cross-quarter day in the wheel of the year, heralding the first signs of spring.

It is a festival particularly associated with Brighid(Brigit, Bride, or Brigid), goddess of healing, smith craft, and poetry. She was Christianised as St Brigid of Kildare.

"Brighid's Kiss - LaLugh" (Watch on YouTube)

(previously posted with the lyrics, here)

Imbolc is a festival associated with candles, milk, new beginnings, and poetry.

There's a longer list of correspondences here.
It's a time for blessing candles, seeing hope that winter will end, writing poetry, and cleansing.

This article gives some background about the history of Imbolc and some of the other festivals taking place at this time.

Lupercalia is also celebrated in February. Named for the She-Wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus it too is focused on cleansing in preparation for spring.

In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the time of Lammas.

Links/Further Readings
Previous Imbolc posts
Brigit of Kildare
Imbolc
Lupercalia
Imbolc History

Allbingo Valentine/Anti-Valentine bingo card

allbingo theme for February is Valentine's Day And Anti Valentine's Day; "celebrating love and how sometimes love sucks".

All kinds of love/anti-love will count, with examples including:
"Relationships, sex, kink, sweet, break- up, bad relationships, etc.
Family, good friends, strong bonds of love or hate.
Anyone and their favorite thing, car, laptop, ring,books, cake, etc.
In short, whatever means love or love sucks to you and your muse."

There are two public cards, one with love prompts and one with anti-love prompts, or you can generate your own card (mixing both kinds of prompts if you want to) – cards and details on generating your own card here.

I've mixed prompts from both lists and run them through the generator:
( Read more... )