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This is a slightly edited article to the one posted last year. It was also posted for #writingwednesday at the writing blogs yesterday:
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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 around 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.

Banner by Magickal Graphics



This is a festival particularly associated with Brighid (Brigit, Bride, or Brigid), goddess of healing, smith craft, and poetry. She shares many aspects, some going so far as to say she was Christianised as St Brigid of Kildare.



Brighid of the sunrise, Rising in the morning, Rising with the springtime, Greening all the land Brighid's Kiss, La Lugh, lyrics here

Imbolc is a festival associated with candles, milk, new beginnings, and poetry. The emphasis is on warmth and light and burgeoning spring, being the halfway point between Yule and the Spring Exquinox.
A few ideas on how to celebrate Imbolc:
Make and drink a milkshake
Buy and plant some spring flowers, such as crocuses and early daffodils
Take a photo of something that signifies approaching spring to you
Write a poem
Clean part or all of your home
Scatter nuts, a sign of prosperity, in a garden
Make a candle - try making ice candles. Bless your candles. Burn a candle and think about what you're grateful for and what your plans are.

This article gives some background about the history of Imbolc and some of the other festivals taking place at this time.
In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the time of Lammas/Lughnasadh, which is the first of the harvest holidays.

More about Imbolc, symbolism, and ways to celebrate, under the cut
( Read more... )

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.

Banner by Magickal Graphics



This 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 of the sunrise, Rising in the morning, Rising with the springtime, Greening all the land Brighid's Kiss, La Lugh, lyrics here

Imbolc is a festival associated with candles, milk, new beginnings, and poetry. The emphasis is on warmth and light and burgeoning spring, being the halfway point between Yule and the Spring Exquinox.
A few ideas on how to celebrate Imbolc:
Make and drink a milkshake
Buy and plant some spring flowers, such as crocuses and early daffodils
Take a photo of something that signifies approaching spring to you
Write a poem
Clean part or all of your home
Scatter nuts, a sign of prosperity, in a garden
Make a candle - try making ice candles. Bless your candles. Burn a candle and think about what you're grateful for and what your plans are.

This article gives some background about the history of Imbolc and some of the other festivals taking place at this time.
In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the time of Lammas/Lughnasadh, which is the first of the harvest holidays.

More about Imbolc, symbolism, and ways to celebrate, under the cut
( Read more... )

Magickal Graphics


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.

(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

Ahead of Imbolc, a beautiful Celtic music track here performed by LaLugh.

Gabbaim molta Bríde (I praise Brighid)
Ionmhain í le hÉirinn (Beloved of Ireland)
Ionhain le gach tír í (Beloved of all lands)
Molaímis go léir i (Let us all praise her)

Lóchrann geal na Laighneach
(The bright torch of Linster)
A' soilsiú feadh na tíre (Shining throughout the land)
Cean ar óghaibh Éireann (The pride of all Irish women)
Ceann na mban ar míne
(The pride of women for gentleness)

Tig an geimhreadh dian dubh (Comes the hard dark winter)
A' gearradh lena ghéire (Cutting with it's severity)
Ach ar Lá 'le Bríde (But on St. Brighids Day)
Gar dúinn earrach Éireann (The Irish spring is near to us)

Brighid of the sunrise
Rising in the morning
Rising with the springtime
Greening all the land

See you in the soft cloud
See you in the raindrop
See you in the winds of change
Blowing through the land

You the red eared white cow
Nourishing the people
Nourish now the hunger
Souls longing in our land
Bird that is unfolding
Now the time's upon us
Only have we eyes to see
Your Epiphany

image by Magickal Graphics

It's Imbolc tomorrow/today, a festival associated with candles, milk, new beginnings and poetry. [Or of course, Lammas if you're in the Southern Hemisphere.]

My previous post about celebrating Imbolc is here DW/LJ

And there's a great tumblr post of Imbolc correspondences here: correspondences

And this post gives a wonderful overview of the history of Imbolc and the various celebrations taking place at this time: History of Imbolc

I thought I'd do something different for this post though and share the recipe for the jam buns I like to make at this festival
( Read more... )