Hi, my loves and welcome to WiccaNow! Recently I’ve been sharing some rituals and spells, like this Honey Jar Spell for Love and a quick guide to knowing how long a spell takes to work. Amythest has also been a busy bee, sharing this wonderful guide to witches familiars and her top tips for manifesting anything. I want to veer off in a different direction today and talk about one of the 8 yearly Sabbats, namely Imbolc.
Imbolc is the second Sabbat of the year and is a celebration of the start of Spring and the end of Winter. It is celebrated on the 1st-2nd of February in the Northern Hemisphere or the 1st-2nd of August in the Southern Hemisphere. This can vary a little depending on what you believe and where you are celebrating. Some people celebrate it on the first full moon closest to this date, while others choose to wait until the first spring flowers, such snowdrops, begin to emerge.
If you want to read more about this festival, check out these posts on Imbolc recipes, Imbolc symbols, and my special Imbolc ritual along with this post on Imbolc altar decorations.
Before you start reading all about Imbolc, check out this gorgeous Grimoire we’ve created! It’s filled with all of our personal tips and tricks and comes in a handy digital format for you to access instantly <3
The History of Imbolc
Traditionally, Imbolc is a Gaelic festival which marks the beginning of Spring. It was widely celebrated throughout Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. For those of Christian faith, it’s known as the Feast Day of Saint Brigid.
Imbolc has a long history and mentions of it have been found in very early Irish literature (4th-8th century) which suggest that it was an important festival in ancient times. Like with many things, this predominantly Pagan festival was Christianized when the church realised that instead of banning certain things they didn’t like, they should just re-brand them. Oh, the joys of marketing and good PR.
Imbolc was traditionally the time when Ewes would have their first Lambs, making it an important time of the year. Imagine that you were stuck inside, with no sunlight, a single fire for heat and nothing fresh to eat for months on end. Most people would have lived in a single room home (easier to heat) with their whole family inside with them. This may have included animals as well. You can imagine that this would have become claustrophobic and incredibly difficult at some point.
The first lambs were a sign of spring, hope and most importantly fresh food. Ewes with lambs would begin producing milk which meant that for the first time in months there would have been fresh food to consume in the form of cheese and milk.
The traditional way of celebrating would often involve special foods, hearth fires, candles and bonfires if the weather was good enough. Lighting candles or a fire was symbolic of the increasing strength of the sun at this time of year. Purification rituals would take place along with some spring cleaning. Again, being stuck in a small house all winter meant that spring cleaning and airing out was probably very necessary by this stage. I love how many of our rites and sabbats contain a good dose of practicality. Make spring cleaning a festival and something to look forward so that it turns from a chore into a pleasure.
What does Imbolc mean?
The word Imbolc comes from old Irish “i mbolg” which translates to “in the belly”. The festival also used to be referred to as “Oimelc” which is translated to “ewe’s milk”. Some Neopagans still use this old name instead of Imbolc.
How to Pronounce Imbolc
What does Imbolc mean to Wiccans?
Imbolc, also known as Imbolg or Imbolic, is closely linked to the Goddess Brigid. In fact, Imbolc is also known as Brigid’s’ Day and is often seen as a women’s holiday which celebrates new beginnings. Due to this, it is often used as a day for initiations into a coven. Sole practitioners might choose Imbolc for their self-dedication ritual. Dianic Witches have traditionally used this day to initiate any new members of their coven.
This Sabbat is a time for Wiccans to celebrate the change from Winter to Spring and to appreciate the lengthening of the days. Imbolc is the midpoint between the shortest day and the spring equinox. It is thought that this is the time of year when the Horned God is growing in power and strength after his re-birth at Yule. The Triple Goddess is stepping into her role as the maiden after having given birth to the Horned God.
Imbolc is a time to cleanse your home and…
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