By Pip
(Written for Winter 2009 Small Tapestry)
“Most Holy Brighid, Excellent Woman, Bright Arrow, Sudden Flame;May your bright fiery Sun take us swiftly to your lasting kingdom.”
- ‘Brighid’s Arrow’ Invocation.
Imbolc, otherwise known as Candlemas, Oimelc, Imbolg and St. Brigid’s Day, is most commonly celebrated on February 2nd in the Northern hemisphere (when the sun is 15 degrees of Aquarius – of the spring rains) and August 1st in the Southern Hemisphere (mid point of Leo – which can be interpreted as the approaching hottest, strongest part of the year in Australia and the time in which to prepare). The date is halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Some celebrate it on the full moon closest to this point.
It is traditionally celebrated by the Gaelic and Celts and celebrates the slow returning of the sun with the approaching spring and the rebirth of nature after winter. ‘Imbolg’ actually means ‘in the belly’ or ‘in milk’ in Old Irish due to the lactation and pregnancy of ewes about to give birth to the spring lambs. In the modern Irish calendar, it is seen as the first day of Spring. It is on of the four fire festivals in the wheel of the year.
Both Christians and Pagans celebrate Candlemas/St. Brigid’s Day and the tradition of Brigid’s Bed has continued for generations. The young girls of the village would make a corn dolly to represent the goddess and decorate it. A bed was made for the corn dolly and the young girls would stay up all night chatting, and receiving calls from young men of the village, who must treat the corn dolly with respect. The ashes of the fireplace was raked before the household went to bed, and in the morning it was studied for marks in the ashes proving Brigid, or her mate, had blessed the house with their presence. The corn dolly, now representing the light half of the year, is then carried around the village by the young girls for the married and elder women to honour. This tradition is still continued in many Sabbat celebrations today.
Brigid was later replaced with the Virgin Mary and the Christians celebrate this ‘light-bringer’ with candle processions. After forty days of childbirth, Mary went to a temple in Jerusalem and re-cleansed herself. The baby Jesus was recognised and was told to be the “light to lighten the Gentiles”. Here we see the tradition of the returning Sun (son) to bring victory of the darkness (enemies) continue.
There is a Scottish saying – “If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there’ll be two winters in the year.” The American Groundhog Day, also celebrate of February 2nd may have been influence by this. If the Groundhog see’s his shadow on the morning of this day there will be six more months of winter. Some Wiccans view this Sabbat to be the traditional day to perform Initiations. The most famous of Imbolc traditions has now been aptly named ‘Spring-cleaning’ – when you clean out your home after the winter in preparation for the beautiful summer months ahead.