Nordic Wiccan: Sabbat Imbolc

Sabbat 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 is time for purification and spring cleaning in anticipation of the year's new life. In Rome, it was historically a shepherd's holiday and among Celts associated with the onset of ewes' lactation, prior to birthing the spring lambs. The Sun gets a little brighter, the Earth gets a little warmer and we know that life is quickening within the soil. The Goddess is transforming from Darkness to Maiden.

Other Names: Imbolg, Candlemas, Disting-tid, Feast of Brigid, Festival of Light, Feast of the Virgin, Festival of Milk, Feast Day of St. Blaize, Charming of the Plow, St. Bridget's Day

Activities: Candle lighting, Searching for signs of Spring, Gathering stones, Make butter, Divination, Cleaning, Weather Magic

Altar: Upon a red cloth light as many candles as you can, as well as a Brigid's cross, a hammer and an anvil, a pen, a bowl of water, bowl of seeds and a sword

Animals: Robin, Burrowing animals, Sheep, Lamb, Dragon, Deer, Groundhog

Attunement Teas(Individually or Blended): Chamomile, Red Clover, Rosemary, Blackberry

Colors: White, Yellow, Pink

Deities: God and Goddess as Children, All Virgin and Maiden Goddesses

Elements: Fire and Earth

Foods: Milk, Honey, Poultry, Pork, Lamb, Cheese, Butter, Dairy

Goddesses: Anu (Irish), Arianhrod (Welsh), Athena (Greek), Audhumla (Teutonic), Brynhild (Teutonic), Laufey (Teutonic), Selene (Greek), Vesta (Roman), Aradia (Tuscan), Brigid (Irish), Gaia (Greek), Kebehut (Egyptian), Triduana (Scottish)

Gods: Bannik (Slavic), Cupid/Eros (Greco-Roman), Diancecht (Irish), Essus (Gaulish), Pax (Roman), Bragi (Norse), Dainichi (Japanese), Februus (Roman), Trusto (Teutonic)