Imbolc

As the days begin to get longer, thousands gather across Scotland and Ireland to celebrate the return of the light after a long, dark winter. The Gaelic festival of Imbolc is one of the earliest festivals celebrating the start of spring. The word Imbolc translates as “in the belly” in Old Irish, as Imbolc is a celebration of fertility and purification, both in humans and in nature, as spring begins to make itself known.

Held on February 1st, between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara), this ancient Celtic festival celebrates renewal and birth.

The first mention of Imbolc comes from Irish literature, in the saga known as The Ulster Cycle. This is thought to have been written sometime between the eighth and 11^th centuries, as it’s a series of oral stories, first recorded by medieval scribes. 

In the saga, it’s said: “No man will travel this country, who hasn’t gone sleepless from Samhain, when the summer goes to its rest, until Imbolc, when the ewes are milked at spring’s beginning, and from Imbolc to Beltane at the summer’s beginning, and from Beltane to Bron Trogain, earth’s sorrowing autumn.”

The festival celebrates the goddess Brigid - the daughter of the chief of the gods, Dagda. Known as the Triple Goddess, she is associated with blacksmithing, poetry, healing, fertility, and prophecy. In Imbolc, the lands awakening after winter are tied to the goddess Brigid’s connection to fertility and the coming warmer, more bountiful months. The first shoots of wild garlic and the start of milk production for cows are some of the key signs of the start of Imbolc. The references to white cows, sheep, and fresh milk also embody the purification and fertility aspects of Imbolc. 

Over time, pagan and pre-Christian deities like the goddess Brigid have become incorporated into Christianity. Along with St. Patrick and St. Columba, St. Brigid is one of the three patron saints of Ireland. The Christian celebration of St. Brigid’s Day is the same as Imbolc on February 1st.

The legend of Saint Brigid comes from the fifth century, and it’s said she founded the first nunnery in Ireland, in Kildare. Stories about Brigid include restoring a blind nun’s eyesight through prayer, miraculously turning water into beer in a leper colony, and turning one barrel of water into beer for 18 churches.

The festival of Imbolc is one of the four fire festivals across the Wheel of the Year in the neo-pagan calendar. The Wheel of the Year is made up of eight festivals, four for the change in the seasons, and four cross-quarter days (the fire festivals): Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain (see previous blog post). These serve as halfway points between any given solstice and the equinoxes.

Ancient Imbolc traditions and rituals include a series of fires to thaw out the frozen ground. Fire is used to symbolise renewal, fertility, and purification. On Imbolc, it’s common to light candles, host bonfires in the communal spaces of the community, and embrace the seasonal shift of increased light and warmth. Hanging a Brigid’s Cross, characterized by its equal four corners, over the door or in the rafters was a protection ritual for the home. Ancient peoples also hung sacred cloth outdoors for Brigid to bless with healing energy and listened for a songbird, specifically a lark, to sing out on Imbolc. The lark’s song meant that spring would be early that year. 

Imbolc traditions tend to centre on nature, with customs like taking walks and planting seeds. To set intention, modern celebrants plant a packet of seeds and say their wishes for the year. As the plants grow, it serves as a reminder to nurture your intention with care throughout the year. Other traditions include leaving butter and beer out for Brigid, making Brigid Crosses to hang over the door and writing poetry.