Imbolc celebrations (2024)

FAQs

What is Imbolc and how to celebrate? ›

Imbolc pays homage to the returning light, and a quintessential tradition involves lighting candles to symbolise the growing sun. Create a sacred space within your home and adorn it with candles of varying sizes. As you light each one, reflect on the increasing daylight and the warmth it brings.

Colors of Imbolc

White, for purity. Green, for new life. Blue, for protection. Gold, for fire.

Traditionally, honoring Brigid meant participating in intentional, powerful crafts , like Brigid crosses and Brigid dolls . While in the past crosses have always been made out of either reeds or straw, you can also use whatever you have on hand to participate in this ritual.

Imbolc or Imbolg (Irish pronunciation: [ɪˈmˠɔlˠɡ]), also called Saint Brigid's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Bríde; Scottish Gaelic: Là Fhèill Brìghde; Manx: Laa'l Breeshey), is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring, and for Christians, it is the feast day of Saint Brigid, Ireland's patroness saint.

Beannacht Brighdhe – happy Brigid's day! May your ewes give plentiful milk; may your awakening plants be safe from frost and bloom abundantly once summer comes; may the pale sun grow to warm your spirit and quicken what is most precious to you.

The celebration of Imbolc originates from the Celts. Imbolc symbolizes the halfway point between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara). The word "imbolc" means "in the belly of the Mother," because the seeds of spring are beginning to stir in the belly of Mother Earth.

Scent Profile: Balsamy, balancing Himalayan Cedarwood provides a supportive foundation while tenderhearted Neroli illuminates and encourages.

Imbolc is associated with rebirth and initiation as we return from the darkness having reclaimed parts of ourselves and gained insight from the journey that might inspire a new beginning or change of direction.

The goddess and saint have many of the same associations. Saint Brigid is considered a patroness of healers, poets, blacksmiths, livestock and dairy workers, as well as serpents (in Scotland) and the arrival of spring.

What color candles for Brigid? ›

Brigid is a Triple Goddess, which means she can represent Maiden, Mother or Crone, at different times of the year. Spring time is for maidens and a white candle would be appropriate to honour Brigid now. Red is the colour of Mother and Black represents Crone.

' Close your eyes, imagine yourself in a beautiful safe place in Nature at Imbolg time, surrounded by your helpers. Call out to Brigid and wait until you see/hear/sense her presence. Trust that this will happen easily and safely.

One common practice during Imbolc is the creation of Brigid's crosses. These crosses are woven from reeds or straw and are hung in homes to invoke the blessings of Brigid for protection, healing, and fertility. They serve as a physical representation of our intentions for the coming year.

without approval of the Catholic church. There are many female saints, but it could be suggested that because the Catholic church did not approve of Brigid's role as a female bishop, or some of her miracles, they would not have approved her as a saint in later medieval Europe.

Sometimes a piece of cloth or ribbon (Brat Bríde or Ribín Bríde) was left outside on the windowsill or near the door for the night. It was believed it would be touched by St. Brigid on her travels and thus be endowed with the power to ward off illness and pain in both humans and animals.

Imbolc celebrations took the form of a festival in honor of the pagan goddess Brigid, who was evoked in fertility blessings and oversaw poetry, crafts, and prophecy. Wiccans and other practitioners of neopagan or pagan-influenced religions celebrate the holiday.

Imbolc time is ideal for a ritual of seed planting, with the seeds representing your intentions for the coming month, season, year or longer. These can be for something (or things) you want to manifest—or see show up— in your life. Intentions can also be to affirm and add energy to new habits you are creating.

Imbolc is a pagan holiday celebrated from February 1 through sundown February 2. Based on a Celtic tradition, Imbolc was meant to mark the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland.

One common practice during Imbolc is the creation of Brigid's crosses. These crosses are woven from reeds or straw and are hung in homes to invoke the blessings of Brigid for protection, healing, and fertility. They serve as a physical representation of our intentions for the coming year.