The History of Imbolc, the Spring Celebration at the Heart of Winter
The History of Imbolc
Now that the Yule season and the holidays have gone and passed, it is time to begin looking to what is ahead. For us at Brigid, each midwinter period is spent wishing for ample snow for sledding, followed by an ample supply of hot cocoa, as well as resting up after the holiday season. As the Solstice recedes and the sun hangs higher, we present the history of Imbolc, the Celtic celebration amidst the heart of Winter.
How To Survive Midwinter
Terms like hygge and koselig have reliably cropped up in social media each winter for years now, encapsulated in trends like #cottagecore. At their heart, both are Scandinavian winter philosophies, built to help people endure the long Nordic nights. For the Danish hygge, the word evokes reimagining your home as a warm, candle-lit oasis; for the Norwegian koselig, it can be like approaching winter like it's one big trip to the ski lodge. Both offer valuable lessons on how to keep your spirits up during the long winter months.
Germanic Origins Abound
Midwinter is yet another term that comes to us through ancient Germanic customs, much like Yuletide and the modern trappings of Christmas. It commonly refers to the heart of winter, the cold month-long stretch between the midsts of January and February, directly between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In these cold winter months, much of Europe can be a hard place to live even now: freezing, snowbound, and barren of life.
For the Anglo-Saxons, the group of German tribes who invaded the post-Roman British Isles in the 5th century AD and eventually solidified their conquests into what is now England, Midwinter began on December 25th, the date on their calendar on which the Winter Solstice fell. Later, with the coming of Christianity, the Anglo-Saxon Solstice slowly changed into what we now know as Christmas. Just like most ancient people whose lives were aligned with the seasons, it was a festival season for them, bringing the whole community together.
St. Brigid, the Maiden of Spring
The ancient Celts were no different from their neighbors across Europe, and for them, the midwinter time was no small thing. On Imbolc, the night before what we recognize as February 1st, the Celts of the British Isles would prepare their homes for the coming of Brigid, the Maiden of Spring, who came to visit them and partake in their offerings of oats and reeds. In thanks, Brigid would bless the celebrants' households with a bountiful new year.
Crucial to the history of Imbolc, Brigid is a goddess who wears many hats, as they say: not content with being the goddess of spring, she is also the goddess of the dawn, poetry, crafting and metalsmithing, animal husbandry, and, most important of all to a semi-pastoral people, she was the protector of newborn lambs. Lambing season was of crucial importance to the ancient Celts of the British Isles; it still is today, as Ireland remains an overwhelmingly rural and agricultural country. In fact, as of 2023, Imbolc is an official holiday according to the Irish government.
The Meaning of Imbolc
The word "Imbolc" itself seems to descend from the phrase "in the belly," referring to pregnant ewes ready to give birth to their lambs. It was a make-or-break season for the herding and ranching lifestyle, where a poor showing among your ewes could spell catastrophe for your entire tribe's fortunes for the year. Because of this, Imbolc was one of the most important days of the Celtic calendar, and making sure that Brigid was watching over you was essential to survival.
The History of Celebrating Imbolc and Its Survival Today
As many features of pre-Christian Celtic myth have, Brigid and Imbolc have survived into modern times, albeit with some changes. In the history of Imbolc, it is commonly accepted that the goddess Brigid is the inspiration of Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland's patron saints (she and St. Patrick are Ireland's most celebrated saints).
Similar to her pagan forebear, Saint Brigid is the patroness of newborns, midwives, dairy maids, and cattle, all of which fall squarely under the Brigantine role as protector of the lambing season. The historical Saint Brigid is said to have been born in Ireland around the same time the Anglo-Saxons were invading Britain and introducing their own winter holidays.
Imbolc survives today as Saint Brigid's Day, a feast day for many Irish Catholics, and coincides with Candlemas, an ancient Greek celebration of the return of spring. It even inspires Groundhog Day, in a roundabout way: the emergence of a groundhog from the earth as a symbol of spring is symbolic of the Earth being seen as our mother, with her blessings coming from within her, an analogy to many facets of motherhood.
Today, many of the traditions of Imbolc can be celebrated at home with your family. As all of the old traditional holidays were, by their nature, feast holidays, cooking a good dinner in celebration is quite appropriate, especially if done with herbs like rosemary and winter savory which thrive in the cold.
To Honor Brigid - Traditions, Rituals and Practices
Every person's relationship with their gods and ancestors is personal, whether they realize it or not, and so we always encourage the reader to explore their own ways to honor them. For crafting, using reeds or any similar material, one can make a Brigid's Cross, an ancient protection spell hung near the door to keep evil out. To honor Brigid herself, we suggest lighting candles as the sun goes down, symbolizing her eternal return.
Ways to Celebrate Imbolc
Here are a few ideas for celebrating Imbolc - remember to tailor them in a way that is meaningful to you personally. Keep in mind this day will be what you make of it, not what we recommend you make of it, so it is imperative to tailor this ancient celtic holiday to your personal, modern life.
Light Candles
Legitimately why we named our candle-making company Brigid, one of the simplest ways to celebrate Imbolc is to simply light candles. This simple action symbolizes the concept that we each have the power to create light in darkness. The darkness of winter cannot survive all year when we each have the power to create our own light.
You can choose to light candles at dawn or dusk to honor the sun, create a peaceful space for lighting candles, and reflect on the increase of daylight and warmer weather.
Create an Alter or Prayer Space
Create a space for spiritual safety that fits your belief system and decorate with the seasons in mind. Decorate with fresh springtime flowers such as daffodils, crocus and heather, spring-themed items, such as plants, crystals, rocks, religious images, or anything else significant to you for mindful reflection.
Imbolc Feast Traditions
Imbolc means "in-the-belly" and is a reference to the pregnancy of ewes during Imbolc, which also indicates a feast. Much like the other eight traditional Celtic holidays (known in America as the "Wheel of the Year"), Imbolc is traditionally celebrated with a feast - either simple or elaborate.
You can find some fantastic feast ideas we've personally enjoyed ourselves from Gather Victoria - we have made and recommend Brigid’s Rosemary Oat Cake, Rosemary Oat Bannock, Colcannon, Imbolc Lavender & Rosemary Seed Cake, and never forget the Bread Pudding!
Make a St. Brigid Cross
Collect reeds from nature (or purchase from a craft store), reeds and straw both work well. St. Brigid Crosses were traditionally hung from the rafters of thatched roof cottages where they were believed to bring a blessing and protection of the saint for the remainder of the year. Today you can find them in many Catholic churches and cathedrals across Ireland, hung prominently next to Catholic icons.
Cross of Brigid / Imbolc Collection
Our own tribute to Imbolc, Cross of Brigid, anticipates the coming of Spring with a delicate blend of floral and earthy notes, Cross of Brigid welcomes the first glimmers of Spring with a blend of subtle Heather, luxurious Rose, bright Narcissus, and earthy Vetiver. Shop the collection now.
