Imbolc

Pronounced IM-bulk, IM-molg, or imb-OLC
Also Oimelc, Candlemass or Brigid’s Day

Date

1st or 2nd February (Northern Hemisphere)
1st or 2nd August (Southern Hemisphere)

Season

Winter / Beginning of Spring

Zodiac Aspect

15 degrees of Aquarius

Themes

Quickening
Hope
Renewal
Fertility
Purification
Hearth and home
Return of the light

Meaning

Although spring equinox is usually considered the end of winter and beginning of spring it is during Imbolc that the first signs of life returning to the world. Snowdrops and Daffodils begin to emerge from the frosty earth reminding us that the season of renewal is fast approaching. The days have noticeably lengthened in comparison to Yuletide and sunlight, and it’s terrestrial companion fire, are important elements in this cross quarter celebration.

The Sun God is seen either as a newborn, or as golden child. His growing strength is represented in the lengthening days as well as the sense of renewal in nature. The Goddess is considered to be moving from her chthonic aspects, usually referred to as her Crone form, and resuming her mantle as the Maiden of Spring. The decay and stagnation of the winter months is slowly being shaken off and a sense of life renewed fills the air.

The word Imbolc is usually taken to mean ‘in the belly’ whilst the alternative Oimelc means ‘milk of the ewe’. These are pastoral references to the beginning of the lambing season, when farmers begin to closely watch their herds for signs of the new arrivals. Even arable farmers begin to take action at this time; checking to see if their homes and tools have weathered the winter before making repairs as needed. The damage caused by deep winter storms are cleared away, and more often than not burned, to make way for the new growth of spring.

Ritual Idea

As with the other cross quarter days fire plays a significant role in celebration. Bonfires are just as significant during Imbolc as they are at Beltane but the smaller flame of the candle is equally appropriate, hence the alternative name for the festival Candlemass. The candle flame represents both the burgeoning powers of the returning Sun God and the renewed Goddess in her Maiden form. The altar is decorated in candles and new spring growth if available.

This theme of Imbolc is purification both physically and spiritually. This is the start of spring cleaning and taking a moment to address the things we have in our lives; what we need, what we want and what is entirely superfluous. Clearing our space is a necessity. The physical you things we clear away can be passed on to others through car boot sales and charity donations but our spiritual detritus we shed needs to be carefully disposed of and fire can be an appropriate tool. Even if you cannot jump the balefire in person fumigation with incense and the processing of a flame around your home are just two ways to incorporate flames into your purification ritual. Other methods of purification include meditation, spiritual baths and showers (I prefer the latter) and egg cleansing.

Craft Idea

The Goddess most closely associated with Imbolc is the goddess Brigit. A Celtic goddess of craft and poetry she is strongly associated with the fire of both the blacksmiths forge and the home hearth. Tradition holds that Brigit would visit the home of those families that honored Her and would bless them with good fortune for the year ahead.

One simple way to honour Brigit, and one that older children can be involved in, is the making of a Brigid Cross. Sometimes called Bridget’s cross, after the saint into which Brigit was conflated, this charm is best constructed from the last sheaf of the wheat harvest or reeds from the river bank. We modern following may struggle for these things and craft straws are the most commonly used alternatives.

Pagan Parenting Idea

Younger children may find the Cross a little tricksy for little fingers so a good mainstay for Imbolc is the toilet roll candle. Many nurseries and schools have the humble toilet roll on the excluded list along with egg boxes but they are really versatile. Adding kitchen roll tubes and gluing them together allows you to make little arrangements of candles and using electric tea lights makes them ready for a child friendly altar space.

Now not all toilet roles tubes are created equal. You may not be able to insert the electric tea lights as illustrated in the above method video. You may be able to sit them on the top of the tube, and I suggest using the trusty glue gun to build a little lip up and out from the top of the tube for the candle to sit in. Don’t glue the plastic tealight to the tube as it will make it very hard to turn the candles on and off later.

If you don’t have access to electric tea lights then there are other methods of creating a child friendly flame. Capping the top of the tube with a small circle of card and using red orange and yellow tissue paper poked through a central hole will create a lovely flame effect, as will colouring in a circle of card appropriately and gluing it to the cap as illustrated here.