Other names for this holiday include Oimelc, Oimealg, Imbolg, Imbolgc Brigantia, Disting, Lupercus, St. Bridget's Day, Candlemas, Candlelaria, The Snowdrop Festival, The Festival of Lights, or the Feast of the Virgin.

February 2nd

Clearly, this is not a festival of full-blown spring. Imbolc comes at that time of year associated with beginning growth and our celebrations center around the very beginnings of spring. Signs of returning spring are very subtle at this time, but they do exist.

The first stirrings of spring from the depths of winter are beginning to show as the first buds are seen appearing on trees, when the days are quite visibly longer than they were around Yule, and when the first days of semi-bearable temperatures begin to arrive. The sun is also stronger and snow and ice melt more readily than they do earlier in the year.

Imbolc is the festival of the "lactating sheep". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. In some areas, this is the first day of plowing in preparation of the first planting of crops. And in many places Snowdrops and Crocus flowers have begun to spring forth from the frozen earth. It is time for blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools.

This holiday is also called 'Brigit's Day', in honor of the great Irish Goddess Brigit. She was considered a goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry and healing. Brigit's holiday was chiefly marked by the kindling of sacred fires, since she symbolized the fire of birth and healing, the fire of the forge, and the fire of poetic inspiration.

Imbolc is not only a celebration of the rebirth of the earth but also a time for purification and (as in the theme of the impending spring) renewal. This is a time of new beginnings and growth. At this time, think of the goals and dreams you wish to "plant" for the year. Now is when we plant the seeds of those hopes and dreams for the coming summer months.

It is considered taboo to cut or pick plants during this time.

Some celebration ideas for Imbolc include:

• Making home made candles.
• Take a hike, searching for signs of spring.
• Place a besom (sacred broom) by the front door to symbolize sweeping out of the old and welcoming of the new.
• Do some spring cleaning around your home.
• Feasting on seed foods or spicy foods.
• Weave a 'Brigit's crosses' from straw or wheat to hang around the house for protection.
• Perform rites of spiritual cleansing and purification.
• Light candles and place them in each room of the house to honor the re-birth of the sun or to give thanks to Brigid.
• Another, more traditional, version of the above candle lighting is to place a lighted candle in each window of your home, beginning at sundown on Imbolc eve, and allowing them to continue burning until sunrise.
  ** If you do this, make sure that each candle is well seated against tipping and guarded from nearby curtains, etc.