Imbolc, also known as St Brigid's day, is celebrated on February 1st & represents the beginning of spring. St Brigid's day has its roots as a Celtic festival of fertility that also marked the beginning of spring signaling an end to the darkness of winter.
Irish festivals are celebrated on the eve of the day because it is considered a liminal time, when the otherworld is very close so appeals for protection & blessings were extra effective. It is a considered a day to seek protection for family, home, crops & animals.
A meal on St Brigid’s Day consisted of potatoes and freshly churned butter. There was also usually chopped cabbage, apple cakes or barm brack followed with tea. Families would eat together and make their St Brigid’s crosses.
So, what does a modern-day Imbolc/St Brigid's Day look like? Well, that depends on who you ask! Some probably prefer to keep it as traditional as possible while others make tweaks & others simply observe the day or make simple offerings.
Today people light bonfires and hold a feast (or just a meal) to honor Brigid. Some modern-day pagans focus on celebrating Brigid herself. They do so by setting up an altar with the symbols of Brigid, such as a corn husk doll, white flowers, a bowl of milk, and candles.
Colors associated with the day are white, red, pink & black. Foods for the day are baked goods, winter vegetables, seeds, dried fruit, butter, milk, cheese, lamb & mutton. Stones that are related to Imbolc are amethyst, bloodstone, garnet, onyx, ruby & turquoise. Symbols linked to Brigid's day are candles, cauldrons, chalice, cow, sheep & swans. Flowers/plants for the day are snowdrops, angelica, basil, bay laurel & celandine. Other deities associated with Imbolc are Aphrodite, Eros & Hestia.
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