"Half your wood and half your hay should still be left on Candlemas Day."
The beginning of February marks the mid-point of winter. Halfway between the Winter Solstice (Yule) and the vernal equinox (Eostar). My people call this time "Imbolc". It is a time when we begin to notice the Earth reawakening after the long sleep of Winter.
The days are clearly longer. Livestock begins to procreate. Hibernating animals start to stir in their dens. We see the hopeful promise of Spring begin to manifest. And although we may still have a long slog to go before full-fledged Spring arrives, we know it’s on it’s way. (We have a saying around here..."As the days lengthen, the weather strengthens." Thus the need for having plenty of fire wood left.)
This occasion is more commonly known in Christian circles as Candlemas or St. Brigid’s Day. As with other Pagan holidays, the Christian Church found it easier to rename/appropriate other culture’s holy days and make them their own, rather than try to stamp then out. In this case, the church says that this was the day that Jesus was presented at the temple. St. Brigid was intended to replace the Goddess Brigit, AKA Bride (pronounced Bry-dee) who is the Goddess of Poetry, Smith craft , Childbirth and Healing. She is also associated with Fire and, of course, the rebirth of the Sun.
Here in the northeast, the Winter darkness sometimes begins to weigh heavily upon our spirits, and Imbolc is an excellent opportunity to celebrate with light. We light lots of candles, and plug the Christmas lights back in. We feast on traditional foods like breads, soups, cheeses, dried fruits (raisins, etc.), onions and garlic, and meat.
In short, we look into the cold face of harshness and gloom, and find hope and joy at the promise of warmth and renewed life. We are reminded that the Wheel of Life is still turning, and we celebrate!
This year, with so many reasons to despair, from failure to achieve social/economic justice, to natural disasters, it might not seem like there’s much to celebrate. But in times like this, I celebrate hope and promise. I celebrate the knowledge that despite setbacks and hardship, within a short period of time, green will replace gray, new life will be born, and the light will continue to grow. And I invite all of you to join me.
I’ll end this humble offering with one of my favorite Christmas hymns: "In the Bleak Midwinter". I’m posting it not for its content, but for it’s title, because everyone knows that Christmas (Yule) in not Midwinter. Plus, it’s a version by one of my favorite musical families.
Martha and Rufus Wainwright with their recently departed Mom, KateMcGarrigle
Back in a minute as my real self: RonV