The Meaning of Imbolc

The weather may be bad, but we are fortunate. Our highways are quickly plowed and de-iced, our homes lighted and reheated with electrical power quickly restored.

But for the ancients it was the time of the long night -- great darkness, piercing cold, and dwindling food stores. February was such a harsh and brutal month that it was called the Dead-month.
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Since travel at this time of year was so fraught with danger, celebrating Imbolc at a large regional festival was out of the question. Instead the Feast of Brigid was celebrated with small rituals in the village and in the home.

Imbolc was nonetheless an important holiday because its message was "hold on, there is hope...the bitter days of winter are near their end." It marked the midway point between the winter and the spring solstice, a time when hope begins to stir with a longing for the return of spring.

Imbolc (also called Oimelc) was primarily a women's festival. Young girls dressed in white carried a corn dolly in processions. Women made corn cakes from the grains that were gathered first and last in last year's harvest and the women and girls feasted together.

And there would be matchmaking as well. With so many deaths over the harsh winter months, it was important to replenish the population of the community so marriageable young men would be invited to attend as well.

Signs of spring's approach would often appear, if only one would look closely.

the softening of the ewes' udders to prepare for lactation when the lambs would soon be born. This lent the name Oimelc (ewes' milk) to the holy day
the thawing of the ice and snow (from "imbolc", meaning well waters), and
the emergence of a few hibernating animals who awoke early to see if the cold and hungry months had ended.
As inspiration, muse, healer, and diviner, Brigid's divine talents bring us hope.
Hail Brigid!