Arizona Pagans and others around the world will be celebrating Imbolc this week. There are public celebrations being held in Arizona and worldwide for this holiday. Starting this Sunday, there will be people honoring the Goddess in many ways.
Imbolc is celebrated by Pagans in the Northern hemisphere on February 1 or 2nd. Imbolc is celebrated on August 1 or 2nd in the Southern hemisphere.
In the Irish calendar it is known as Lá Fhéile Bríde, and Lá Feabhra, but is is the first day of Spring if the Wintertime breaks. Sometimes Spring begins at Imbolc, and sometimes Winter lasts 6 more weeks until the equinox.
Grove of the Rising Phoenix-Ár nDraíocht Féin and Witchvox are having a public ritual on Sunday January 29, 2012.
It will be held at the Irish Cultural Center at 1106 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix, Arizona. On the public website it states, "Imbolc will be an Irish Pantheon rite honoring Brighid our Grove patroness. Please bring any old Brighid's crosses to burn in the fire. Also please bring any offerings you would like to make to the kindreds." This is a public ritual and free to the public.
For more information visit the Witchvox or Grove of the Rising websites.
The Galeic roots of this festival also refer to it as the Feast of Saint Brigid and Candlemas in Christian traditions. Brigid who is the Gaelic goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft, she is said to walk the earth on Imbolc eve. In Wiccan traditions, Imbolc is seen as a women's festival and has specific rituals that are formulated for the empowerment of female coven members.
Fire and purification rituals are part of this cross-quarter festival for modern Pagans. Imbolc is the day the Gaelic woman figure Cailleach gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter, she is not a goddess and is sometimes refered to as the Gaelic hag. Imbolc is the day the Gaelic woman figure Cailleach gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter, she is not a goddess and is sometimes refered to as the Gaelic hag.
The Galeic roots of this festival also refer to it as the Feast of Saint Brigid and Candlemas in Christian traditions. Brigid who is the Gaelic goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft, she is said to walk the earth on Imbolc eve. In Wiccan traditions, Imbolc is seen as a women's festival and has specific rituals that are formulated for the empowerment of female coven members.
Imbolc is the at the roots of the North American Groundhog Day on February 2.
Imbolc was a traditional day of prognostication. There were traditions that would watch for badgers and serpents to come out of their Winter dens on this day. There is a Scottish proverb that refers to a serpent coming up from the ground that speaks of this day, hence the reference.
The serpent will come from the hole
On the brown Day of Bride,
Though there should be three feet of snow
On the flat surface of the ground.
In Scotland the tradition may also derive from an English poem, which refers to Candlemas and the planting traditions to be followed at this time of year.
As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and rain
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop
Although there is much debate how Groundhog Day became intertwined with Imbolc, it is a large traditional day for Northern America. It has kept the date alive for Pagans and other people that are not of Pagan beliefs. Since 1886, Groundhog Day has been a major celebration. The largest festival for Groundhog Day is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvaniaand its homeboy Punxsutawney Phil. Punxsutawney Phil is probably the most famous groundhog today. The data coming from the Groundhog Day proponents says that the rodents' forecasts are accurate 75% to 90% of the time, but the National Climatic Data Center says it is more like 39%.
Well for a groundhog, I suppose any of those numbers are not bad.
My best wishes for all Pagans, friends and their families for their celebrations on Imbolc.
Blessed Be.
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