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Celebrating Imbolc

© Cosette Paneque

Imbolc is the holiday that honors the Goddess slowly turning the Wheel of the Year back to spring. It marks the Sun's growing strength. The days grow longer and in many places we begin to see the first signs of spring. In fact, Imbolc is a Celtic term for spring. In the Irish language, it means "in the belly" (i mbolg), referring to the pregnancy of ewes. Another name is Oimelc, meaning "ewe's milk."

Like many Celtic festivals, Imbolc celebrations centered on the lighting of fires. Fire was perhaps more important for this festival than others as it was also the holy day of Brigid ("the exalted one"), the Celtic goddess of the fires of inspiration, the hearth, and the forge. She is celebrated at Imbolc because it is she who brought spring to the land and the lighting of fires celebrated the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months. Imbolc is a Sabbat of fertility, inspiration, healing, and purification.

Winter was a harsh time for our pagan ancestors, often marked with disease and malnutrition. For them the success of the new farming season was of great importance. Imbolc rituals were performed to harness divine energy that would ensure a steady supply of food until the harvest six months later. It's no wonder then that Imbolc customs are designed as acts of sympathetic magic to lure back the Sun and speed up the coming of the warm spring. With this in mind, here are some ideas to help you celebrate Imbolc with your family.

Create an altar
Imbolc is a festival of light, reflecting the lengthening of the day and the hope of spring. White, the color of light and milk, appears predominantly. Use a white altar cloth, add white and yellow flowers and candles. Make candles using an easy candle making kit from your local craft store. Use votives or tea lights in glass jars that the kids can decorate. Be sure to use extra caution with candles if you have little ones. You may even choose to abstain from lighting them altogether and just keep them on the altar unlit for symbolic reasons. If candles are absolutely out of the question, use strings of holiday lights or make candles out construction paper.

Have a bardic night
Remember that Brigid is the goddess of the fires of inspiration and patroness of poets. Plan an evening of family fun full of storytelling, music, and dance. Play drums and other musical instruments. Let your children read you their favorite poems. Share your favorites with them. Take the opportunity to teach your kids about Brigid.

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