Today, it’s Imbolc, (pronounced: Im-ulk or im-molc), one of the four principal festivals of the pre-Christian Celtic calendar.
It’s an old Celtic name for the spring festival on the 1st of February, now called St. Brigit's Day. In Belgium it's called Maria Lichtmis.
Here's a great article about St Brigit:
St Brigit: no better woman for the times we live in
Brigit was also a “peace weaver”, the name given to distinguished women in Old European times.
Like community activists and nurturers, Brigit wove the fragile threads of life into webs of community
Brigit was also a “peace weaver”, the name given to distinguished women in Old European times.
Like community activists and nurturers, Brigit wove the fragile threads of life into webs of community
Imbolc is a turning point in the year, a bringer of spring, yes it’s still cold but at least the sun is trying to shine through.
It’s a great time to let go of the old and to start new traditions. Imbolc is a time of new beginnings.
A few things you could do, starting today:
Spring clean your house and/or do a ritual smudging.
If you still have old greens in your home from Yule or Christmas, you could start a small ritual fire in your garden or fireplace.
At sunset this evening, light a few candles and ask spring to come. The magical new moon period is also a good time to let go.
To honor Brigit you could make a Brigit cross or Crios Brideog.
St Brigid, perhaps even more than St Patrick, was long at the center of popular devotion in Ireland. The most famous tradition associated with her is the St Brigid's cross. The St Brigid's cross was traditionally woven by hand each year from rushes, and the cross was hung on St Brigid's day by the kitchen hearth. The St Brigid's cross is both a cross and a svastika or solar wheel and likely predates Christianity in Ireland.
I made one this morning.
How to make one yourself?
Brede, Brede,
tar gys my thie tar dyn thie ayms noght.
Foshil ee yn dorrys da Brede, as thig do Brede e heet staigh
Imbolc Blessings
This is exactely what I like about blogs. You learn about things that you find interesting. Not necessarily crafting or knitting, but also stories about people across the world, and now about ancient traditions. It's perhaps a woman's world, because I can't seem to explain this to my husband or sons. But I will light a candle tonight, and hope for spring... By the way, Maria Lichtmis in celebrated in Belgium on the 2nd of february. We have traditional pancakes in the afternoon when children come home from school. Lichtmis has something to do with Mary, mother of Jesus : in those days, after the birth of a child women were very considerately left to care for the child for a number of days, without the hassle of the household or other marital duties regarding husband ;-). Other females of the family took care of her household and children until at Lichtmis she was considered back in shape, and took care of her family again. That is what I was told...
ReplyDeleteMmmm pancakes !
ReplyDeleteYes rozemie you are right about the date: feb 2
Maria Lichtmis or Candlemass is probably a Christianization of the Gaelic festival of Imbolc, she replaced Brigit in a sence.
It is a woman's world, Mary is woman too !
Yes let's all light a candle now !
Thank you for your comment.