Sabbats - Imbolc

How do you know its Springtime? Imbolc is here! Imbolc is the Pagan springtime festival celebrated on the 1st of Feburary.

Imbolc, also known as St. Brigid’s Day, is the first festival of spring in the pagan calendar. St Brigid’s Day is widely observed throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland (and St Brigid is the female patron saint of Ireland.) It is heavily associated with springtime and the Goddess Brigid.

Also “In recent centuries, Brigid's crosses have been woven on St Brigid's Day and hung over doors and windows to protect against fire, illness, and evil. People also made a doll of Brigid, which was paraded around the community by girls, sometimes accompanied by 'strawboys'. Brigid was said to visit one's home on St Brigid's Eve. To receive her blessings, people would make a bed for Brigid, leave her food and drink, and set items of clothing outside for her to bless. Holy wells would be visited, a special meal would be had, and the day was traditionally linked with weather lore.” (source: Wikipedia)

Activities for Imbolc include; burning red candles, looking for signs of spring (new flowers, birds nesting), making corn dolls, creating a brigids cross, creating a bonfire and spring cleaning. Some pagans also bake bread or make soups as a way of celebrating this sabbat as well.

This year I cleaned for Imbolc to invite in the new season. I’m working on doing a full spring cleaning of the house and then next on my list is recreating my altar. But that will be for another post on here!

Other associations with this sabbat include deer and Sheep, White, yellow, brown, amethyst and ruby, chamomile, lavender and rosemary.

Do you celebrate Imbolc or St Brigid’s Day? Let me know in the comments!