How to celebrate IMBOLC on Feb. 1-2, 2021?

January 28, 2021 / PRIME AND FLOW / By Hanan Akl

New Beginnings

IMBOLC has some amazing traditions and symbolism. It’s one of the eight holidays on the Pagan Wheel of the Year known as the eight “Sabbats”.

What is it? Why is it celebrated? And how?

Actually, it’s one of the four main festivals on the Celtic calendar, also known as a fire festival in Celtic paganism and as Candlemas within Christianity.

It falls on the 1st or 2nd of February each year in the Northern Hemisphere and is in the middle between the Spring and Winter solstices.

If IMBOLC is bright and sunny, then winter will go on longer. If it’s miserable and rainy, then the spring will come sooner. 

It’s a festival of the goddess Brigid:
– She’s one of the most highly celebrated deities across the world and is known as the TRIPLE GODDESS (refer to the silver triple moon ring design below which you can purchase as well).
– She’s a fire deity for the home of the heart and of protection – that’s why she is represented by the fire of the kitchen too.
She symbolizes fertility and childbirth. Her representing animals are livestock as she’s deeply connected to the Earth Mother.
– She’s found as Saint Brigid in Christianity and also in many other diverse cultures.
– This holiday is about protecting what you have but also looking forward into the future and venturing into new beginnings. 

IMBOLC is surrounded around farming whereby Brigid’s day is a turning point within the seasons where you start looking forward to the spring. Even the word “Imbolc” in Gaelic means “in the belly” and being fertile for new life in the spring.

• IMBOLC Colors: Opposite colors depending on how you choose to celebrate it. If you celebrate it as new beginnings then use white like snow. Pale green, pale yellow, green and purple. It’s about pastels and gentle colors.
  If you want to work with it as a fire energy, then use yellows, reds, fiery oranges like the sun. 
• IMBOLC Herbs: Bay, Basil, Ginger
• IMBOLC Incense: Rosemary, Cinnamon, Basil

How to Celebrate? 

1. Make a Brigid’s Cross (common practice in Christianity, in Pagan community and even in schools as a kids activity)

2. Wear the colors of the season mentioned above as clothes, lipstick, socks or even dye your hair!

3. Get flowers to decorate the house or create a flower crown to wear 

4. Declutter with a Spring Clean in the home or office

5. Read or write poetry

6. Nature walk

7. Plant herb seeds (lavender, basil, etc.)

8. Meditate… sit quietly, release all negativity and breathe calmly!

9. Set-up an IMBOLC altar on a small table with the colors, crystals, candles and other items symbolic of the season.

10. Burn Incense

11. Turn on all the lights & light all candles for a few minutes in the house to bring back light into the darkest time of the year.

“The Festival of Lights brings the promise of spring,
Amid the cold of winter’s dire sting.
Snowdrops poke their heads through the soil,
To herald the breaking of winter’s bleak toil.

Our spirits are stirred by the waking light,
to focus our senses and strive for clear sight.
Bride the Healer and Poetic Muse,
Brings inspiration to conquer the blues.

The grain is blessed and ready to plant,
As we look ahead and plan the year’s harvest.
Joyfully we banish the word “can’t”.

We kindle our resolution with inner light,
And know we have the power to make a solution.
Blessed be and happy Imbolc!”

– Pagan Poem

xxx,
Hanan