The next Sabbat we will be talking about is Blessed Imbolc, February 2, also known as Candlemas. This is the first celebration of Spring, another fire festival. Imbolc is when we welcome the Sun back once again. We start to see the buds on the trees, the flowers popping up through the start of the nice green grass that is starting to grow and calling out to be tended to. Everything is waking up to bring you and me the beauty of color and sweet smells of flower we are granted every spring. This is the festival that celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring, the beginning of a new crop, a new season.
Saint Brigid's Cross
Imbolc has also been called Brigid's Day but it is not pronounced as we see it or as they do in the Catholic Church and Christian beliefs, it is pronounced Breed. We call it that because it is a day to honor the Celtic Goddess Brigid. Brigid is the triple Goddess. On this day we celebrate the changing of the Goddess from the Crone to the Maiden. She is the Goddess of Poetry, Midwifery, Healing and Smithcraft. In other words anything and everything you do with your hands she is there to help you, guide you, and bless the work you do. This is the time of the year when you light a white Candle to Brigid.
Let me tell you a little story an amazing woman taught me many years ago. It tells us of a beautiful Goddess Brigid who falls in love with a the God of the forest, Cernunnos. Their love grew and soon they married. They were very happy together looking over the land and making sure the creatures who lived there had whatever they needed to survive. One day the beautiful Goddess Brigid told her charming love Cernunnos she was pregnant. She tended to the needs of all those who were looking towards her for food and protection all through the summer and the spring but come the fall she was too tired to continue. Cernunnos loved her so much and he wanted what was best for his child and sent her to rest for the fall and winter till she was needed once again in the spring. As so she rested and on February 2nd she gave birth the The Sun God. Now she was able to give Cernunnos a chance to rest since he had been standing guard all winter making sure every one and every thing had all the food, water, and protection they needed to survive. Now it was her turn to watch over the land and those who lived in it. So it is on this day we pay tribute to Brigid with fire festivals, feasts, celebrations and rituals.
I always like to take the time during the spring season to realize all that is coming to life once again.
Brigit's Day
By Toni Gamarro
Blessed Imbolc, Saint Bridget's Day,
Others watch for what the Ground Hog might say,
The first celebration of Spring,
And all the beauty it will bring,
There is a tale they used to tell,
Of this day, I know it well,
The Beautiful Goddess Bridget the story goes,
Falls in love it the forest God Cernunnos,
Married and happy together they watched over the land,
Caring for all creatures hand in hand,
Then one beautiful day,
Bridget told him they had a child on the way,
She worked beside him caring for all,
But she grew tired by the Fall,
For his family he wanted what was best,
So he took over and made her rest,
He knew he could take care of whatever the winter may bring,
Till she was needed once again in the Spring,
And so she rested till that special day,
February 2, when it was time to say,
Hello to her little one,
We now know as the God of the Sun,
With his birth came two things,
The celebration of the first sign of spring,
And the time for Cernunnos to take a break,
To get some rest so he can wake,
In time for winter to take his post,
Making sure everyone and everything had the most,
Food, water, and protection they would need,
Until Feb 2. when Bridget wakes to do her deed,
Whatch over the land and all in her care,
As she breaths the breath of Spring back in the air.
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