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Imbolc Celebrations: Let’s Usher in the Spring Breeze Together

By Maggie 11 October 2022
Reading works meditatively, relax 8 minuten with this article.
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Imbolc is the Celtic Spring Festival. We say goodbye to winter and say hello to spring. Celebrate it together in Wiccan style!

crocus in snow

We celebrate Imbolc from January 31 to February 2 to usher in spring. Perhaps a little early you would think, but according to ancient customs, spring begins when it is time to sow and harvest and when the sheep are pregnant again. This spring festival is therefore dedicated to Celtic deity Brigid. This fire goddess watches over our fertility and that of the earth. We can therefore herald the early start of spring together with all kinds of festive activities and everyone can participate. Want to know what to expect on this special day? Let’s celebrate Imbolc!

celtic calender tapestry

Imbolc is a Holiday on the Celtic Calendar

Imbolc is a festival that occurs on the Celtic calendar or the wheel of the year. It is a neopagan calendar. Neopaganism includes several spiritual movements of which ‘wicca’ is the largest. Often these religions are very much one with nature and the rituals are therefore often based on honoring everything that grows and flourishes and lives. The Celtic year wheel contains a total of eight events, four of which are Sabbaths and four are cosmic events. Examples of this are:

  • Yule: From 20 to 23 December
  • Ostara: From 15 to 22 March
  • Beltane: On May 1
  • Samhain: On October 31

These days are often linked to a certain time of the year and/or the sun and moon. Imbolc celebrates the run-up to the vernal equinox or Ostara, when the sun is directly over the equator. Precisely because of these kinds of special events in nature, these holidays arise eternally. 

woman enjoying the sun

Why People Celebrate Imbolc in the Spring

In February, people go to celebrate Imbolc on the cross quarter day that marks the midpoint between winter and spring. Winter is slowly creeping away and the signs of spring are just around the corner. This used to be the time to work hard on the land, because agriculture took a great amount of preparation, and life depended on a good harvest. That is why Imbolc is also called the ‘plough and sowing festival’. This day is all about purification and fertility, not only in the field but also indoors. Rituals, symbolism, and decorations are all involved in this spring celebration. And the sheep and lambs also play an important role in this!

‘Imbolc’ Meaning

Imbolc, called “oimelc” in some cases, comes from sheep’s milk. The ewe gives birth to lambs around spring and produces milk for them during this period. This used to be a sign that spring was coming again. The Irish word ‘i mbolg’ means spring but also ‘in or around the belly’ and  you can see this connection during a ritual in which farmers walk around the field. The land represents the mother goddess and they walk in circles around the belly of this celtic goddess. The festival is therefore also a reference to Brigid who is of great importance in Imbolc Wicca!

bracelet flowers hand spring

Meet the Fire Goddess Brigid of Imbolc

A certain goddess plays an important role at the fertility festival, as she watches over this beautiful period of the year. Her name is Brigit or Brigid and she is the Celtic goddess of fire, fertility, and inspiration or poetry. Imbolc is actually a party in her honor. This light goddess has also evolved into Irish Catholic traditions. Brigid would have been Mary’s midwife or a druid who was converted by Saint-Patrick. In this belief, she is known as Saint Bridget and today the Feast Day of Saint Brigid is celebrated in Ireland.

Celebrating Imbolc with a Purification and Fertility Ritual

Give the house a good cleaning and put the flowers outside, because it’s that time of year. During Imbolc, both purification and fertility rituals are performed to best celebrate the rebirth of spring.

Cleansing Ritual

The day before the big party it is often a ritual to have a great purification or cleaning. So grab a bucket of soapy water, for example with natural Aleppo Soap and a broom and start cleaning! You can cleanse your house with White Sage to purge negative energy. With Imbolc, people also like to take a herbal bath to cleanse themselves from the winter cold. Find out more about Spiritual Cleansing in our Blog.

Fertility Ritual

When everything is fresh and fruity, it’s time for the fertility rituals. Dolls are made in honor of the goddess with her appearance and Brigid Crosses made of straw. “The fire goddess brings the promise of a new fruitful spring,” some say. Her worship with the rituals is thus rewarded with a fresh start to the year!

straw celtic cross grass

Wicca Activities for the Imbolc Festival

A party often also means fun activities, right? Also during this Sabbath there are plenty of festivities that you can apply yourself. In addition to celebrating Imbolc with a big cleaning, there are plenty of other wicca rituals with which you can stir up the spring feeling. Make the sowing and harvest festival your own with the following activities:

  • Celebrate with Fire and Light
  • Make a Brigid’s Cross and Grain Doll
  • Set up an Imbolc Altar
  • Gardening
  • Spring Walk
  • Write an Imbolc Poem or Proverb

Celebrate with Fire and Light

This Sabbath is not called the festival of fire or light for nothing. One of the traditions is to switch on all the lights in the house for a few minutes on the eve of Imbolc. In the morning as many candles as possible are pulled out of the cupboards, or people go to buy candles to burn them comfortably. But besides being cozy, it is also a way to honor the fire goddess of course.

Make a Brigid’s Cross and Grain Doll

People honor Brigid during this lambing season with a special kind of cross and a grain doll. It is generally the intention that you make these yourself. A lovely ‘creative with straw’ moment actually. Make up your own fun variation, such as a cross made of herbs instead of straw or the grain doll made of cloth. 

spring time pagan altar

Set Up an Imbolc Altar

Many people also make spring altars full of flowers, herbs, and candles. Besides that it is fun to make, it probably also looks nice. If you’d like to try making one yourself, consider collecting the following:

  • Herbs and Flowers: rosemary, cinnamon, basil, bay leaf and lavender
  • Fragrance Oil: lavender, chamomile, frankincense and jasmine
  • Frankincense: myrrh, sandalwood, laurel and lavender or frankincense herbs
  • Gemstones: citrine, amethyst, tourmaline, carnelian, rose quartz, granite, onyx
  • Witch Cauldrons: a cauldron is perfect for incense, oils, Gemstone Water, or other potions
  • Scented Candles: candles in white, yellow, pink and/or red suit Imbolc
  • Imcolc Wicca Symbols: Pentagram, St. Brigid’s cross, the sign for mother earth

Gardening

It wouldn’t be a sowing and harvest festival without your hands rooting in the earth. Now is the perfect time to think about your garden needs. Lots of flowers in all kinds of colors? Or finally start that herb garden? Time to put the seeds in the ground and hope for a nice harvest.

Spring Walk

After all these celebrations, let’s stretch our legs and look for signs of spring. A long healthy walk can do wonders for your health and a possible winter dip that still lingers. Look around you at the buds in the trees that are already visible. Try to spot the crocuses that encourage other plants to appear above the earth. You may already see some green dots here and there.

Write an Imbolc Poem or Proverb

Saint Brigid’s duties also include watching over inspiration and poetry. How nice would it be to write a poem about winter turning into spring or about the goddess herself? Of course you can also make a spell and recite it during a Wicca ritual. In any case, it is a creative boost for the mind!

hand reaching spring white blossoms tree branches

Start Your Own Spring Ritual!

At the first sign of spring you can of course devise your own ritual. Maybe the first Full Moon of the spring means something special to you.  You could try a Full Moon Ritual or making Moon Water. Another spring idea is to keep an eye open for what Spring Birds You See, and check out what messages they may be bringing you. With the spring showers you’re sure to spot some Rainbows with Spiritual Meaning too. Or check out other Shamanic and Wiccan rituals to try. Whatever nature magic you choose, you’ll find tips at Spiru.

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