Today we are going to see what is the Celtic celebration of Imbolc, an Irish festival that starts the spring with its rituals.
What is the Celtic celebration of Imbolc?
Imbolc or Imbolg, also called (Saint) Brigid’s Day, is a traditional Gaelic festival that marks the beginning of spring. It is celebrated on February 1, or approximately halfway between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
Imbolc, or Imbolic as it is sometimes spelled, is mentioned in early Irish literature, and there is evidence to suggest that it was also an important date in antiquity. It is believed that Imbolic was originally a pagan festival associated with the goddess Brigid, and that it was Christianized as a festival of Saint Brigid, who is believed to be a Christianization of the goddess.
At Imbolc, crosses were made of Brigid and a Brigid doll figure called Brídeog. The figure would later be displayed from house to house by young girls, and sometimes accompanied by “straw boys”. Brigid was said to visit one’s home in Imbolc.
To receive her blessings, people would make a bed for Brigid and leave food, drink and the garments outside for her to bless. The Brigid was also invoked to protect homes and livestock. People participated in special feasts, visits to sacred wells and it was a time of divination.
Although many of its traditions died out in the 20th century, it is still observed and in some places has been revived as a cultural event. Since the late 20th century, Celtic Neopagans and Wiccans have observed Imbolc as a religious festival.
Imbolc Etymology
The etymology of Imbolc or Imbolg is unclear. The most common explanation is that it comes from Old Irish i mbolc (Modern Irish i mbolg), meaning “in the womb,” and refers to the pregnancy of sheep.
Another possible origin is the Irish imb fholc, “to wash or cleanse oneself,” referring to a ritual cleansing. It is also derived from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “milk” and “cleansing.”
Also Imbolc means “feast of Mary of the Candles” which is celebrated on February 2. It is sometimes translated into English as “Candlemas”; for example, iar n-imbulc, which translates as a ngeilt translated as “after Candlemas, it was difficult her shepherding”.
Imbolc Origins
The date of Imbolc is believed to have been significant in Ireland since the Neolithic period. This includes the Hostage Mound on the Hill of Tara, and Cairn L at Slieve na Calliagh.
Historical traditions
In Gaelic Ireland, Imbolc was the festival marking the beginning of spring, during which great feasts were held. It is attested in some of Ireland’s earliest ancient publications, from the 10th century onwards.
It was one of the 4 Gaelic festivals. Named below:
- Samhain (November 1)
- Imbolc (February 1)
- Beltane (May 1)
- Lughnasadh (August 1).
From the 18th century to the mid-20th century, many accounts of Imbolc or St. Brigid’s Day were recorded by folklorists and other writers. They tell us how it was celebrated then and shed light on how it may have been celebrated in the past.
Dates of celebration for the Imbolc
It has traditionally been celebrated on February 1. However, because the day was considered to begin and end at sunset, celebrations would begin on what is now January 31. It has also been argued that the timing of the festival was originally more fluid and based on seasonal changes.
It has been associated with the start of the lambing season (which could vary by as much as two weeks before or after February 1), the beginning of spring planting and the flowering of sloe.
Feasts
The feast was a festival of home, family, and a celebration of the lengthening days in the early signs of spring. Celebrations often involved bonfires, special foods, divination or observance of omens, candles or bonfires if the weather permitted.
Fire and purification were an important part of the festival. The lighting of candles and fires represented the return of warmth and the growing power of the Sun in the coming months. A spring cleaning was also customary.
Ritual and offerings on Imbolc
Sacred wells were visited at Imbolc and at the other Gaelic festivals of Beltane and Lughnasa. Visitors to the holy wells would pray for health as they walked “into the sun” around the well.
They would then leave offerings, usually coins or clooties. The water from the well was used to bless the home, family members, livestock, and fields.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXheoyGDSg
Donald Alexander Mackenzie also recorded that offerings were made “to the land and sea.” The offering could be milk poured on the ground or gruel poured into the water, like a libation.
Saint Brigid
Imbolc Day is strongly associated with Saint Brigid. Saint Brigid is believed to have been based on Brigid, a Gaelic goddess. The festival, which celebrates the beginning of spring, is thought to be related to Brigid in her role as the goddess of fertility.
On the eve of Imbolc, Brigid is said to visit virtuous homes and bless the inhabitants. As Brigid represented the light half of the year and the power that will bring people from the dark season of winter to spring, her presence was very important at this time of the year.
Families would have a special meal or dinner on the eve of Imbolc. This typically included foods such as colcannon, sowans , dumplings , barmbrack and bannock. Often, some of the food and drink would be reserved for Brigid.
Brigid Welcoming Ritual
Brigid would be symbolically invited into the house and often a bed would be made for her. In the north of Ireland, a family member, representing Brigid, would go around the house three times in a hurry.
They would then knock on the door three times, asking to be let in. On the third attempt, they are welcomed in, food is served, and the reeds become a bed or crosses.
Other versions In the 18th century Mann, the custom was to stand at the door with a bunch of rushes and say “Brede, Brede, come to my house tonight. Open the door for Brede to come in and let Brede come in.” The rushes were spread on the floor as a rug or bed for Brigid. In the 19th century, some old Manxes women would have a bed for Brigid in the barn with food, beer and a candle on a table.
Brigid wand
In the Hebrides in the late 18th century, a bed of hay would be made for Brigid and someone would call out three times, “Bríd Bríd, come in; your bed is ready.” Next to the bed would be placed a white wand, usually made of birch.
It represented the wand that Brigid was said to use to make vegetation start to grow again. In the 19th century, women in the Hebrides would dance while holding a large cloth and shout, “Bríd, Bríd, come and make your bed.” However, at this time the bed itself was rarely made.
Before going to bed, people would leave garments or strips of cloth outside for Brigid to bless. The ashes of the fire would be raked up and, in the morning, they would look for some kind of mark on the ashes as a sign that Brigid had visited.
Clothes or strips of cloth would be taken inside, and are now believed to have healing and protective powers.
The Brigid’s Cross
In Ireland and Scotland, a representation of Brigid would be personified in the community by girls and young women. This was usually a doll figure known as a Brídeóg (also called ‘Breedhoge’ or ‘Biddy’).
It would be made of rushes or bulrushes and lined with pieces of cloth, flowers and shells. In the Hebrides of Scotland, a shiny shell or crystal called (Brigid’s guiding star) was placed in its chest. The girls would carry it in procession while singing a hymn to Brigid.
Representation
In Ireland, Brigid crosses were made at Imbolc. A Brigid cross usually consists of reeds woven into a four-armed equilateral cross, although three-armed crosses have also been recorded. They were often hung over doors, windows and barns to welcome Brigid for protection against fire, lightning, disease and evil spirits.
Weather divination
Imbolc was traditionally a time of weather divination, and the old tradition of watching to see if snakes or badgers were coming from their winter dens may be a precursor to North American Groundhog Day. A Scottish Gaelic proverb about the day is:
“The snake will come from the pit on the brown day of Bríde, though there must be three feet of snow on the flat surface of the ground.”
Imbolc was believed to be when Cailleach, the divine witch of Gaelic lore, gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if you want winter to last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather in Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood.
Therefore, people would be relieved if Imbolc is a bad weather day, as it means that Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over.
Neopaganism
Imbolc or festivals based on Imbolc are performed by some neopagans. As there are many types of Neopaganism, their celebrations of Imbolc can be very different despite the shared name. Some try to emulate the historical festival as much as possible.
Other Neopagans base their celebrations on many sources, and historical accounts of Imbolc are just one of them.
Neopagans usually celebrate Imbolc on February 1 in the northern hemisphere and August 1 in the southern hemisphere. Some Neopagans celebrate it at the astronomical midpoint between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox (or the full moon closest to this point).
In the northern hemisphere, this is usually February 3 or 4. Other Neopagans celebrate Imbolc when primroses, dandelions and other spring flowers emerge.
Wicca and Neo-Druidry
Wiccans and Neo-Druidry celebrate Imbolc as one of the eight Sabbats in their Wheel of the Year, after Midwinter and before Ostara. In Wicca, Imbolc is commonly associated with the goddess Brigid and, as such, is sometimes seen as a “women’s festival” with specific rites only for female members of a coven. Among Dianic Wiccans, Imbolc is the traditional time for initiations.
