Traditions | How We Celebrate | Recipes | Correspondences

Imbolc represents the return of light into the world. The earliest whisperings of Springtide are heard now as the Goddess nurtures those born in the spring. As a time of the year associated with beginning growth, Imbolc is an initiation period for many. Usually celebrated starting at sundown on February 1st continuing through the day of February 2nd.
Imbolc means in the belly of the Mother as that is where seeds are beginning to stir in Spring. Imbolc is especially sacred to the Celtic Fire Goddess, Brigit, patron of smithcraft, healing, midwifery, and poetry.

Imbolc, also called Oimealg, (IM-mol'g), by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. Derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc" which means "ewes milk". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and they're ready to give birth. A timefor Blessing the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. Imbolc marks the centre point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, as from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, and the first crocus and snowdrop flowers began to spring forth. The Maiden is honoured, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Corn dollies are created and placed in baskets on white flower bedding. Young girls carry the corn dollies to each door, and gifts are bestowed upon them from each household. Brighid's Crosses are made from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is placed by the front door to symbolise sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honour the re-birth of the Sun.

The God & Goddess At Imbolc The Goddess is now recovering from her delivery of the God, who has now grown into a youthful boy. His powers are shown as the warmth fertilises the Earth and plants begin to germinate deep beneath the ground. Very durable plants will show above ground now. The renewed power of the sun is felt after the cold, dark winter and this Sabbat is one of purification and is full of light. An offering of milk poured upon the ground showed the peoples gratitude for the fertilization of the ground. Brigid is the Goddess of fire and fertility and this Sabbat is a fire celebration, welcoming the return of the light. This is the start of new beginnings; the beginning of Spring and also new beginnings in the Craft, as this is a popular time for initiations or dedications. The celebrations are truly striking for this occasion as many candles are lit as well as bonfires. Brigid is also the muse of poets and at this time stories and poems are told.

Imbolc Traditions

Brighid's Cross is a type of corn dolly and is a symbol of protection and prosperity for the coming year. It is traditionally made at Imbolc and hung in the home. Gather plenty of wheat stalks (without the heads) and soak them in water until they become soft enough to bend without splitting. Hold one stalk vertically and fold another in half around the middle of the first. Fold the next stalk over the last one (It will be parallel to the first one). Fold the next stalk over stalks one and three (It will be parallel to the second stalk). Continue to work in a circular fashion until you have used up your wheat stalks or created enough of a woven centre to the cross. Hold the stalks together carefully and tie each end together with string or cotton so the cross won't fall apart.

The Corn Maiden, is a symbol of fertility, she will become the Corn Mother at the first harvest of the grain. At Imbolc, a corn doll fashioned of cornhusks is often dressed in white and placed in a lovely bed as the Bride, with a phallic wand beside her. At Lammas, that same corn doll may be dressed in the red of the Mother and carried aloft in first harvest procession. In the photograph you see the doll and bridal bed.

How We Celebrate Imbolc...

Submitted by Moonshadow - Here we light candles on Imbolc eve and have a family supper and talk about the coming season and what we hope it will bring. On Imbolc day if the weather is clement I take time to make a start on the spring clean of the garden, if the ground is too frozen I do what I can. During the day I do the house spring cleaning, this is the start I choose to do the main spring clean on the Sabbat of Ostara. During the Imbolc sabbat I bless the seeds that I want to grow in the coming season and offer milk to the Earth and ask it to blossom and let my plants grow.

This year I'll be blessing some pumpkin seeds that I want to sow at Ostara to harvest for Samhain this year. I also take the time to listen to the garden and make plans for any alterations.If the weather is not too blustery we go for a walk and look for signs of the approaching spring, the first snowdrop, buds on the trees etc. Our ritual at the end of the day is ceremoniously finished off with a small bonfire, usually the debris from the garden. We finish off our ritual with warm milk and honey cake (see recipe below).

Other Things To Do

Compose a poem and read aloud during the Imbolc ceremony, or recite a favourite poem of your own.

Open all the windows and let in the new spring air, Imbolc is traditionally a time for purification, which gave rise to the tradition of Spring Cleaning! Brush those cobwebs away and start afresh. Imbolc is the time to tackle all your 'Spring Cleaning' - this can apply to the mind and heart as well as the household.

Light a candle in every room of the house on Imbolc. Lighting candles in every window is traditional, as is leaving them to burn down. Obviously this isn't always practical, or safe, so we tend to walk through the house with a lit candle and welcome the spring and then settle the candle in the room we do our ritual in to burn down.

Place white flowers such as snowdrops and crocus, which naturally comes into flower this time of year upon the altar.

As this is a time of rebirth and new beginnings it's also an appropriate time for thinking about what you'd like to accomplish, for making attainment goals, choosing a new skill to learn.

Make an offering of milk to the earth as a token of fertility, just pour the milk on to the ground.

Imbolc Recipes

Imbolc Lamb Stew & Chive Dumplings: Serves 4 - 6 750g Diced Lamb 750ml Cold Water 2 Medium Onions (Peeled & Chopped) 3 Medium Carrots (Peeled & Diced) 4 Medium Potatoes (Peeled & Diced) 100g Frozen Peas 1 Tsp Salt & Pepper 1 Tbs Parsley Chopped Chive Dumplings 125g Self-Raising Flour 1 Teaspoon Butter or 45g Suet ½ Tsp Salt 1 Tbsp Chives - Chopped Milk

Method : Place the lamb in a saucepan, cover with water, add the peeled and diced carrots and potatoes, chopped onions, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and parsley. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer for an hour or until lamb and vegetables are tender. Adjust the seasoning and add the peas then simmer for further 10 minutes. Drop dumpling dough by heaped dessertspoonfuls on top of hot bubbling stew. Cover tightly; cook 15 – 20 minutes. Chive Dumplings: Sift together flour and salt. Rub in butter/suet, stir in chives. Add enough milk to make a soft, sticky dough.

Imbolc Honey Cake - Makes 12 - 16 Squares Clear honey - 225 ml (8 fl oz) + 3 tbsp Butter - 75g (3 oz) Plain flour - 350g (12 oz) Ground mixed spice - 1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda - 1 tsp Chopped Lemon peel - 50g (2 oz) Eggs - 3 Milk - 3 tbsp Lemon - 1 large, zest only Flaked almonds - 25g (1 oz)

Method : Pre-heat oven to 170 °C / 325 °F / Gas 3. Grease a 20 cm (8 inch) square cake tin and line the base and sides with greaseproof paper. Pour 225 ml (8 fl oz) honey into a saucepan, add the butter and heat gently, stirring, until blended. Sift the flour, spice and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl. Add the lemon peel. Beat the eggs and the milk together and stir into the honey mixture with the lemon zest. Gradually pour on to the dry ingredients, beating well after each addition, until well blended. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin and sprinkle with flaked almonds. Bake for about 1¼ hours, until the cake is firm to the touch or a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Using a skewer, prick the top of the cake and spoon over the remaining honey. Turn out and leave to cool on a wire rack. Do not remove the lining paper until the cake is cold.

NB: More Imbolc recipes including one for incense can be found on the Sabbat recipes page.

Imbolc Correspondences

Imbolc Herbs: Angelica, Jasmine, Nutmeg, Oak, Myrtle, Basil, Bay, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Red Clover, Crocus, Dandelion, Dill, Fennel, Copal, Strawberry, Snowdrops, Heather, Primrose, Rosemary, Saffron.

Imbolc Incense: Rosemary, Dragons Blood, Cinnamon, Wisteria, Frankincense, Myrrh, Basil, Jasmine, Camphor & Lotus.

Imbolc Colours: White, Ivory, Orange, Red, Yellow, Pink & Brown.

Imbolc Decorations: Lamps, Besom (witch's broom), Flowers, Brigit's Crosses, Iron decorations like horseshoes, Seeds, Wells, Fire.

Imbolc Foods:All dairy products, Curries, Onions, Chives, Garlic, Spiced Wines, Seeds, Honey Cake, Sacred Breads, Lamb, Herbal Teas.

Spellwork appropriate for Imbolc: Fertility spells, Spells for beginnings, Rejuvenation spells, Purification spells, Spells for good luck for future endeavours.