Updated for 2015
Imbolc (pronounced i-MOLK meaning “in the belly”) is one of eight seasonal festivals marked on the ancient calendar known as The Wheel Of The Year. Imbolc is observed on 1st February each year.
Imbolc heralds the first stirrings of Spring as it lies halfway between The Winter Solstice (Yule) and The Spring Equinox (Ostara). It is a time when days lengthen, new buds and shoots appear and the first lambs are born.
Imbolc was originally observed by the Gaelic (Irish, Scottish and Manx) people as a vital indicator of a new agricultural year.
The festival was deemed sacred to the Gaelic goddess Brighid (pronounced breed) the midwife of the year and protector of women, children and newborns.
Hearthfire celebrations involved the baking of bannocks; the origin of Pancake Day.
Corn Dollies and Brighid’s crosses would be made from dried stalks, reeds and rushes to bless the coming season.
Imbolc was a time for weather forecasting. Watching for snakes or badgers to emerge precedes the North American tradition of Groundhog Day.
Click For Lily Wight’s Complete Guide To The Wheel Of The Year
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[…] Imbolc ~ The Beginner’s Guide To The Wheel Of The Year (lilywight.com) […]
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Reblogged this on Measureless Eons.
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Cool post lily~
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Thank you, Miss Blue xx I plan to post something similar for each of the festivals throughout 2013… got to keep myself motivated! xx
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🙂 I look forward to them Miss Lily~
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[…] Imbolc ~ The Beginner’s Guide To The Wheel Of The Year (lilywight.com) […]
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What a divine blog truly inspired by the goddes.
Many Blessings, Lily.
carol
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Thank you Carol 🙂 Please pop round whenever you like xx
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[…] Imbolc ~ The Beginner’s Guide To The Wheel Of The Year (lilywight.com) […]
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[…] Imbolc ~ The Beginner’s Guide To The Wheel Of The Year (lilywight.com) […]
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[…] Imbolc ~ The Beginner’s Guide To The Wheel Of The Year (lilywight.com) […]
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[…] Imbolc ~ The Beginner’s Guide To The Wheel Of The Year (lilywight.com) […]
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ostara starts march 21
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[…] Imbolc (birth of Spring) […]
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[…] Imbolc ~ The Beginner’s Guide To The Wheel Of The Year […]
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Reblogged this on Lily Wight.
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I always enjoy your wheel of the year posts…thanks for them.
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xxx
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[…] This image was borrowed from Lily Wight’s blogpost about Imbolc @ https://lilywight.com/2013/02/02/imbolc-the-beginners-guide-to-the-wheel-of-the-year/ […]
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[…] https://lilywight.com/2013/02/02/imbolc-the-beginners-guide-to-the-wheel-of-the-year/ […]
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