Saturday, January 25, 2014

Imbolc


Imbolc is a Pagan holiday celebrated on 1st or 2nd of February and represents the end of Winter and the rebirth of the Sun.  It is defined as a cross-quarter day, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  In Wicca, Imbolc is commonly associated with the Goddess Brighid and as such it is sometimes seen as a women's holiday with specific rites only for female members of a coven.  Among Dianic Wiccans, Imbolc is the traditional time for initiations.  For the Norse, it is the Charming of the Plow.  A time to bless the plow and other tools of work and Spring.
Imbolc was traditionally a time of weather divination and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens may be a forerunner to the North American Groundhog Day.

Imbolc was believed to be when the Cailleach—the divine hag of Gaelic tradition—gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter.  Legend has it that if she wishes to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood.  Therefore, people would be relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over.  

There is a legend in Northern Europe of magicians who were able to harness the wind. The wind was imprisoned in a magical bag with intricate knots, and could then be unleashed to cause devastation to one’s enemies.  If your family’s livelihood and life depended on the success of your crops, weather magic would be a handy thing to know.  Or if you are just needing a break from the Arctic lows, now would be a good time to ask.

Sun come out , Snow go away and come
another day , Sun shine bright beautifully today ,
So may it be!

 

 

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