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Below is an article published in The Seanachie
(The High Desert Celtic
Society's newsletter)
February Issue 2001, Vol II Issue IV
(Written by a COFC Member)
 
The Celtic High Holiday of Imbolc
Imbolc (or Imbolg) literally translates as "in the belly", which refers
to two meanings. The first is the quickening of life stirring within the
womb of Mother Earth and the very beginnings of Springtide. For many
warm climates spring truly begins in February, while even colder
climates (like ours) bares witness to the irruption of the earliest bulb
flowers and the swelling of buds on trees. At Imbolg, signs of life and
the return of the sun's warmth was a relief to the Celts. They knew that
soon the icy grips of winter would lessen and abundance would return to
the land. Women took this time getting ready for the busy growing season
by taking stock of what they had on hand and began spring cleaning their
homes before outside activities became prominent during warmer weather
conditions. Men also took stock, sharpened their plow blades and hoes,
or made new ones.
"In the belly" also refers to sheep getting ready to birth and marked
the beginning of the lambing season. Oimelc was another name used for
the holiday meaning "ewe's milk". Pregnant sheep began lactating and the
milk was harvested. Generally feasts centered around dairy foods and a
favorite ritual drink made from ewe's milk, cider, mashed apples and
honey was consumed to honor this Sabbat in Cornwall. More contemporary
feasts include warm milk served with a bit of chocolate or honey. Other
traditional Celtic dishes for Imbolc were poultry and lamb doused in
dill, while Norse traditions dictated that pork be eaten and the bones
be saved as talismans for virility until the planting season.
Originally, Imbolg was not a Sabbat but a special day to honor the
Goddess Brigid (or Brid in Gaelic). She was said to be a bride waiting
for her youthful Sun God Lugh to return. The name Brigid actually means
bride and it has been a very popular girl's name in Celtic lands. A
woman soon to be handfasted to a mate is called a bride in her honor.
Brigid is the Goddess of the Forge (smithcraft), fire, protection,
inspiration, poetry, healing and midwifery. The Irish adored her and
give thanks to her for turning the wheel of the year once more. Many
traditions at Imbolg surround her. A Brigid doll or grain dolly is made
from sheaf collected from the last grain harvest. To this day, the
Brigid doll is dressed in white and sometimes carried through a village
and the fields to bring fertility to the land and to protect the crops
to be planted, as was practiced by their ancestors. Grain dollies are
kept in a place of honor in the home and at Imbolg it is kept in a grain
basket or cradle. The dolly in the cradle signifies the Goddess waiting
the arrival of her God lover. Nuts, acorns, a small stick and/or ashes
of the the burnt fields from the previous year (crop fertilizer) are
often placed in the bed with her as symbols of fertility.  In Ireland,
materials were often not woven into human form, but into Brigid's
crosses for protection. Many thought of them as sun wheels which are
sacred to the Sun God Lugh. Brigid is also Goddess of the eternal
life-giving waters of springs and wells. On Imbolg, Celtic people would
throw coins into magickal wells with their wishes for the waxing year.
Many of these ancient wells were covered over by the church or encased
in church walls, but a few can still be found.
Not only is Imbolg the beginning of spring on the Celtic calendar, the
harvest of ewe's milk and the feast day for Goddess Brigit, but a
festival of light as well. To ease the gloom of dreary weather, many
people burned candles in their windows on the eve of the Sabbat until
dawn, paraded in candle crowns during festivities and lit bonfires to
lure back the the light of the sun. The Celts also burned their Yule
decorations (wreaths, holly boughs, cut evergreens, etc.) by adding them
to the sacred fires of Imbolg. Since Brigid is the Goddess of the fire
of birth, the forge, and the fire of creative inspiration, a festival of
light only served to compliment the celebrations.
Imbolg is a festive high holiday enriched by many traditions. The
customs were so engrained in the Celtic culture that the church saw no
option but to rename Feb 1st as St. Brigid's Day and Feb 2nd as
Candlemas. Most Americans know Feb. 2nd as Groundhog Day. This is a
faint ruminant of weather divination which was so popular among the
Celts.
Imbolg is also a time of initiation and cleansing - cleansing of the
home, body and mind. It is the first of the spring Sabbats to usher in
Celtic fertility celebrations; not only for fertility of the earth and
body, but for fertility of the mind as well. It is a time to initiate
new ideas and projects, to set things into motion and to celebrate the
wonderful things yet to be born.
Think spring!
by Terra Sands


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