There are festivals in early February that are celebrated by many cultures. February 1st is St. Brigid's Day. February 2nd is Groundhog's day, Candlemas and Imbolc. All of these holidays were probably some kind of observance of the cross quarter day. When the year is divided into quarters by the solstices and equinoxes, there are four cross-quarter days, one at the midpoint of each season. This year the exact midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox is February 4th, just a couple of days after these traditional holidays.

At this time of year, the days are becoming noticeably longer as we move away from the longest night of the winter solstice. These are festivals celebrating the returning light and the first stirrings of spring and rebirth. Here in western New York, we are not seeing many signs of spring yet, but we do begin to notice that Mother Earth is beginning to stir: there are buds on the trees, the animals and birds are mating or already pregnant, and a February thaw may actually bring a faint and temporary breath of spring. In England and Ireland at this time, the seasons are more advanced, and one may even find some crocuses poking through the snow in February.

The Romans celebrated the goddess Venus at this cross quarter day. The first flowers of spring were crocuses, sacred to the goddess, and they were gathered at this time to decorate homes, altars, and young women. The Romans played a board game each year on this festival. There was a crone with a dragon at one end of the board, and a maiden with a lamb at the other end. The object of the game was for the lamb to conquer the dragon. Then the Crone would once again become the Maiden aspect of the goddess, as the new born spring lamb would replace the dragon of winter.

One ancient pagan name for this holiday was Imbolc, from the Gaelic "immolg", meaning "in milk". Another name was Oimec, meaning "ewe's milk". At this time of the year, the sheep and cattle are giving birth, and they are "in milk" to feed their young. Dairy products, especially sheep's milk, were traditionally featured in this celebration. In Cornwall a ritual drink was made from cider, mashed apples, honey and the milk of pregnant ewes for the Imbolc celebration.

This was the feast of the Celtic Goddess, Brighid (pronounced "breed"). She was associated with brides, fertility and childbirth. She was the mother goddess of Ireland, and was the patron of poetry, fire, metal smithing, and healers. She was a great healer and protector of children. One Irish custom was for young women to dress up as Brighid and go from door to door begging for alms for "poor Biddy". Giving to the goddess was supposed to bring a good harvest the following season.

 

© Miguel Cura,1998-99

 

Imbolc ceremonies featured Brighid's Bed. A corn dolly was made from the last-harvested corn husks in the fall. It represented the Goddess and was hung in every household. On Brighid's day, the doll was dressed as a bride and placed in a lined basket or bed. The doll symbolized the young maiden form of the goddess, waiting for the youthful sun god to return. A phallic shaped loaf of bread symbolizing the young god was laid next to her. The fertility aspect of the Goddess Brighid may also be at the root of Valentine's Day, celebrated less than two weeks later.

The Christian church converted the Goddess Brighid to Saint Brigid, patron saint of smithcraft, poetry and healing. Her feast day is February 1st, on the eve of Imbolc. The church somehow convinced the Irish people that their goddess, revered from ancient times, was in fact an early missionary who came to Ireland to convert them to Christianity. They claimed that the saintly miracles she performed were mistaken for the magic of a goddess.

Traditional practices for this day include lighting a candle in every window on Imbolc eve and leaving them burning all night. This was done to welcome the waxing sun. It was also considered an auspicious day to make candles. The Christian church celebrates Candlemas Day on February 2nd. All the candles to be used in church services during the coming year are blessed on that day.

Another custom was to gather all the greenery and wreaths left from Solstice or Christmas and burn them in a ceremonial fire to banish the winter. In Nordic cultures, this feast was celebrated by having a young maiden wear a wreath of greenery and lit candles on her head. The wreath would represent the turning wheel of the year, and the candles the returning sunlight as winter turns toward spring. This is still practiced on St. Lucia's Day.

Groundhog's Day is the only holiday still widely observed in early February here in the United States. The theme of this day is in keeping with the promise of spring returning. Old folklore has it that if the day is sunny and the Groundhog sees his shadow and returns to his burrow, six more weeks of winter will follow. If the day is cloudy, the groundhog will not be scared back inside, and an early spring will follow. This doesn't make much sense here in the northern states, because the groundhog is still deep in hibernation at that time of year. Besides, there are always six more weeks of winter after February 2nd. The original legend made more sense. In England on Candlemas day, and early spring was likely if one saw the shadow of a hedgehog or badger. These animals don't hibernate, so they are often out on warm winter days. Spring also comes earlier there, and a cloudy day may have meant that the spring rains had already begun.

The theme of all of these seasonal celebrations seems to be light and hope for the coming spring. It can be a time of great creativity and new beginnings. Take some time to banish winter and the old and tired from your life. Clean your house, throw out or give away old clothes or unused things, release old hurts or guilt. Celebrate life--play, love, and create something new. Begin a project, do some artwork, make a craft, play music, sing a song, or write some poetry. Light candles in your windows or a fire in your hearth to welcome the coming spring.

 

Brigid of the bright flame,

Fire our minds with inspiration,

Through the mists of darkness,

May light be found,

Let our words, ideas, visions and dreams, ignite,

That they may enliven, move and delight,

Both, those that give and those that receive,

These gifts, that come from you,

Through flowing waters, living things,

Mountains high and imaginings,

Brigid Goddess of inspiration and healing,

Touch our hearts and minds with the beauty and the power,

Of word and song.

 

Copyright © 1998 Pauline Khong

(The Wordsmith Lotus)

---

Home