Imbolc is a Celtic Fire Festival celebrating the quickening of the world around us, the awakening of the land. Marking the halfway point between winter solstice and the spring equinox in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland, Imbolc dates back to the pre-Christian era in the British Isles. The first Celtic Fire Festival was traditionally aligned with the first day of spring and new beginnings and of rebirth and renewal. As the force of life stirs around us, we plant the seeds of hope and promise.
At Imbolc we celebrate the Goddess Brìghde, Brighdid, Brigid who is considered the patroness of poetry, smithing, healing, arts and inspiration. The Goddess of the dawn and of Spring…
Spreading her green mantle across the land, Brigid revives the earth from it’s winter slumber and the cold embrace of the Cailleach Bheurra, the Goddess of Winter. Thus ensuring the return of the season of plenty and the eternal promise of Spring.
Bonfires, hearth-fires and candles were lit to celebrate and honour the ever growing light and ceremonial foods were prepared to celebrate the first stirrings of the return of life to the land, to welcome the season of life and growth.
The Goddess is an “embodiment of the supernatural cauldron of plenty, a common motif in Celtic literature and legend.”…bread, cakes, custard pies, cheeses and drink made with magical ingredients associated with the sun (such as egg yolk, butter and honey) were served for the Imbolc Feast.
A splendid collection of recipes and authentic stories with incomparably beautiful offerings by Danielle Prohom Olson at Gather Victoria.
https://gathervictoria.com/2016/01/20/midwinter-feast-of-light-reviving-the-magical-foods-of-imbolc/
Cailleach Bheurra, sleep now that Brìghde may attend…thank you for a season of your wisdoms Mother.
Thig an nathair as an toll
Là donn Brìde,
Ged robh trì troighean dhen t-sneachd
Air leac an làir.
The serpent will come from the hole
On the brown Day of Bríde,
Though there should be three feet of snow
On the flat surface of the ground
.
Imbolc Blessings…what new beginnings do you bring to the light? What do you plant to harvest at Lughnasadh?