Imbolc - A Festival of Light

 The Wheel of the Year is a list of pagan holy days, known as sabbats. There are 4 greater sabbats known as the Cross-Quarter days as they are midway between the solstices and equinoxes. Starting with the beginning and end of the year they are: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Ludgnsahd. The 4 lesser sabbats, known as the Quarter days, are the solstices and equinoxes: Yule, Ostara, Litha, Mabon. 

Imbolc is also known as: Candlemas, Feast of Lights, Feast of Torches, Oimelc, Brigid’s Day, Lupercalia, Feast of Pan, Snowdrop Festival, and the Feast of Waxing Light. It is traditionally celebrated on Feb. 2 or astrologically 15 degrees into Aquarius, near Feb. 4. Imbolc is a fire festival and often dedicated to Brigid or Bride (pronounced Breed), Goddess of fire and inspiration. This marks the recovery of the Goddess after giving birth to the God. We sing to awaken the Earth Mother and warm the earth. 

It is a signal that the days are getting longer and spring will soon be here. It represents an initial wake-up call to the Goddess that she must soon waken from her slumber and begin to warm the earth back up. We are at the harshest part of winter; winter’s midpoint. At this point, the tides turn and move us toward spring, when we look forward to ushering in spring. 

This is a sabbat of purification after the shut-in life of winter. We renew the power of the sun. The fire represents light, warmth, our own inspiration and our own internal illumination. This is a traditional time for initiations and dedications. It is traditional to light every light in the house, have lit candles in every room, or place a kerosene lamp with a red chimney in the window. The Scandinavian custom of the crown of candles, Santa Lucia, comes from this sabbat. 

Some traditional foods are dairy, spicy and full bodied foods, curries, peppers, onions, leeks, shallots, garlic, chives, spiced wines, and dishes with raisins. 

 Some traditional herbs are snowdrop, rowan, and the first flowers of the year.