As winter thaws, take a moment to mark Imbolc, the moment spring starts to peek through
Imbolc is the Pagan festival that marks the sight of spring around the corner, celebrating light and fertility. It’s the start of the agricultural year, when the earth warms up, everything begins to grow and lambs and other livestock start to be born. But it’s a lovely moment in the calendar to celebrate in your own private way. If you’re still waiting patiently for winter to be over, to be able to get out in the garden again, feel the sun on your face a bit more and look forward to longer days, Imbolc marks that moment we say goodbye to the harshest days of winter and welcome the light and warmth to come. Here are a few things you might like to do:
Light a candle - a flame is the traditional symbol of Imbolc, which is a ‘fire’ festival
Spring clean your home, or perhaps just make one corner of it look shiny and new. The home is central to the celebration of this festival.
Plan your planting for the coming year and maybe sow a few early seeds. You can start off tomatoes or sweet peas indoors in February.
February 1st is also Brigid’s day, the Celtic Goddess of, among other things, poetry. Read a poem to yourself to (or to Brigid, if the mood takes you). Try our poetic pause on p67 of the February issue.
Visit a river or stream and have a paddle if it’s not too cold. Alternatively, take your cleansing ritual home and have a nice long bath.
Eat something creamy or cheesy (like we need any excuse). The word imbolc comes from ‘ewe’s milk’ so you might like to enjoy a fondue, cream with your pudding or a simple milky drink at bedtime. If you’re not a dairy eater, you could prepare something like a curry, to celebrate the warming of the earth, with lots of fragrant spices.
At sunset, put the lights on in every room in the house to welcome back the sun.
If you’re inspired by our Imbolc ideas you might like to read ‘Re-emerging’ on p12 of our February issue, all about that moment between winter and spring.
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