SEASONS OF CELEBRATION

FEBRUARY 2 ~~ IMBOLC ('tween, HIGH HOLIDAY)
Astronomical Date: Sun 15 Degrees Aquarius
August 1st in Southern Hemisphere
An Fheille Bride, Anagantios, Brigantia, Brighid, Brigid, Brigid’s Day, Candlelaria, Candlemas, Chinese New Year, Feast of the Virgin, Festival of Light, Imbolg, Imbolic, Imbollgc, La Fheill, Lupercalia, Lupercus, Oimealg, Oimelc, Snowdrop Festival

ACTIVITIES:
Bless new projects
Bless seeds
Brigid's Crosses
Brigid's Flames
Burn Evergreens from Winter Holidays
Candle Making
Cleanse and re-consecrate ritual tools and altar
Corn/Grain Dollies (Straw Brideo'gas)
"Crown of Light"
Decorating Ploughs
Destroy Harvest Icons (Corn/Grain Dollies, etc.)
Divination
Indoor Planting
Initiation Rites
Light Candles (every window sundown burning until sunrise)
Plant Bulbs & Seeds
Read/Write Poetry
Ritually Cleanse Home
Start Spring Cleaning

CAULDRON: Fertility

COLORS: WHITE, yellow, mint, pink, lavender

DECORATIONS:
Brides
Candles/Lamps
Carnations
Crocus
Dishes Of Snow
Daffodil
Ewes
Groundhogs
White Flowers

FACTS AND FOLKLORE:
'IM-bulk' or 'EM-bowlk'
Candlemas means "Mass Candles"
Imbolc means "in the belly" (Old Irish)
Oimelc means "Ewe's Milk" (Old Irish)
Februum means "Purification" (Latin)

Brigid also Goddess of Holy Wells (Celtic)
Brigid's Fire is symbolic transformation (healing, visions, and tempering)
Brighid's snake emerges from womb of Earth Mother to test weather (origin of Ground Hog Day)
Candles symbolize warming earth and reviving of life
Ewes began lactating
Growth time: first fertility
Holiday Goddess Of Fire Brigid (Celtic)
Honors young Goddess as Bride of the Sun God
Lambing time
Maiden honored as Bride
Recovery of Goddess after birthing the God at Yule
Seeds of Desire symbolically planted
Sun is Springtime Maiden, bringing spring to earth
Thaw releases water, all that was hindered flows

FEASTING:
Cheeses
Deviled Eggs
Ice Cream
Nuts/Seeds
Pudding

BEVERAGES:
Creams
Milk