Picture taken during ceremony at the Chalice Garden
Glastonbury
Yesterday the first jasmine opened in my garden
and I was reminded by its heavenly fragrance
that it is Imbolc
and today is Candlemas, the feast day
of Mary of the Candles.
That is in the Southern Hemisphere of course.
In the Northern Hemisphere it is the feast of Lammas.
It is all rather confusing for us here in the South
as Imbolc also coincides (in Europe) with the
feast day of St Brigid, the Christianised
version of the Goddess Brigid, also called
Mary of the Gael
and the traditional goddess of Imbolc.
Picture taken in Kildare during Lammas/Imbolc
A definition of Imbolc according to Wiki :
Irish imbolc derives from the Old Irish i mbolg “in the belly”. This refers to the pregnancy of ewes.[4] A medieval glossary etymologizes the term asoimelc “ewe’s milk”.[5] Some Neopagans use Oimelc as a name for the festival.
Since Imbolc is immediately followed (on 2 February) by Candlemas (Irish Lá Fhéile Muire na gCoinneal “feast day of Mary of the Candles”, WelshGŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau),[6] Irish imbolc is sometimes rendered as “Candlemas” in English translation; e.g. iar n-imbulc, ba garb a ngeilt translated as “after Candlemas, rough was their herding”.[7]
I took this photograph of the statue of Mary, in Kildare during
my pilgrimage to the shrine of St Bridgit
Imbolc or Imbolg (pronounced i-molk or i-molg ), also called (Saint) Brighid’s Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Bríde, Scottish Gaelic: Là Fhèill Brìghde, Manx: Laa’l Breeshey), is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of spring. Most commonly it is held on 31 January–1 February, or halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Beltane, Lugnasadh and Samhain. It was observed in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Kindred festivals were held at the same time of year in other Celtic lands; for example the Welsh Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau.
Myself with statue of Saint Brighid, Kildare
Imbolc is mentioned in some of the earliest Irish literature and it is associated with important events in Irish mythology. It has been suggested that it was originally a festival associated with the goddess Brighid and that it was Christianised as a festival of Saint Brighid, who herself is thought to be a Christianisation of the goddess. At Imbolc, Brighid’s crosses were made and a doll-like figure of Brighid, called a Brídeóg, would be carried from house-to-house. Brighid was said to visit one’s home at Imbolc. To receive her blessings, people would make a bed for Brighid and leave her food and drink, while items of clothing would be left outside for her to bless. Brighid was also invoked to protect livestock. Holy wells were visited and it was also a time for divination.
The original fire hearth of the ancient Vestal Virgins tending
the fire of Brighid the goddess in Kildare – now on the site
of the Cathedral of St Bridgit
In Christianity, 1 February is observed as the feast day of Saint Brighid, especially in Ireland. There, some of the old customs have survived and it is celebrated as a cultural event by some.
If you are interested in reading more about Imbolc, Brighid and how you can spend
this sacred day, please read the following links on my blogs :
A blessed day of the Holy Bride to you
