The Persephone Interval, Imbolc, Feast of St. Brigid, Candlemas – Oh, & Groundhog Day Too

I like it when many alternative rituals converge on one celebratory day.  All of the sudden the unique fabric turns into superbly clear. The seemingly disparate threads of custom are woven again collectively.  Such is the case with February 2. Often called Mid-Winter in lots of Anglo-Saxon nations; particular person yarns have names equivalent to Imbolc, the Feast of Saint Brigid, Candlemas, and even Groundhog Day.

Imbolc

The Mid-Winter tapestry originates with the traditional Celts who worshiped Brigid (or Bride), a Celtic Goddess who was liable for bringing again the sunshine of Spring.  Her pageant day is called Imbolc. Imbolc is the mid-way level between Winter and Spring.  Her identify derived from an older Sanskrit goddess ‘Bhairavi’. Brigid loosely means ‘fiery arrow’ or ‘Goddess of Hearth’.  She was a mother-goddess, a life-protector, a poet, a seer, the Goddess of regeneration and abundance.  Imbolc itself means the stream of milk from the ewes, when indicators of Spring start their track of rebirth.

St Brigid

As Christianity took maintain of Europe, Goddess Brigid reworked into Saint Brigid who was mentioned to be the daughter of a Druid. She had the power to invoke miracles, and supply abundance.  Brigid is usually depicted as radiant daylight, a brilliant, shining lady who’s each a healer and weaver.  By legend, she lived in an all-female sanctuary attended by priestesses who saved the flame of life alive. The cross of Saint Brigid is her well-known image, a fiery sun-wheel turning inside a cross.  On her Feast Day, festivites happen all through Nice Britain. Feasting, choices, dancing, singing, and the procession of Brigid’s cross, or circle-cross, typically constituted of braided straw rope.

Photographs: Mossy inexperienced candles from Areaware, “CANDLEMAS” by Yvette Vetjens by way of celtic woman. Irish espresso (an ideal cocktail for these chilly days). Learn how to make a Birgid’s Cross from grasses and different backyard cuttings. Groundhog dday is Chunk, the instagram well-known woodchuck’s massive day. Lovely handmade candles. A contemporary concrete bonfire web site. “Truthful Maids of February, Candlemas Bells, or White Girls. Snowdrops have numerous endearing names and are sometimes related to indicators of hope, the start of spring and the brand new 12 months”. – by way of @sandringham1870, Pictures by @tarareeson. And eventually – I went down the rabbit gap of Irish espresso and located two instagram accounts value following. @donuthunting critiques donuts everywhere in the world – (an absolute should comply with). They found the divine Irish espresso donut at The Items Donuts in Carlsbad, CA.

Unique picture for this submit:

Candlemas

The Mid-Winter pageant was to bear yet one more transformation. When Catholicism took root, it transformed this present day (really someday later, February 2) to the Feast of St. Mary. In Jerusalem, 40 days after giving start to the Christ little one, Mary entered a temple in Jerusalem the place Christ was acknowledged because the Heavenly gentle, come to take away the darkness.  Renamed Candlemas, candles had been – and are to this present day – lit in church to recollect the return of the sunshine within the type of Christ.

Groundhog Day

Which brings us to Groundhog Day.  It too marks the day of Mid-Winter; if the groundhog sees his shadow, we’ve got 6 extra weeks of Winter forward; if not, Spring is on its manner.  Not as glamorous as Imbolc or Candlemas, no lighting of candles or feasting or processions with flames and crosses, however a noting of the flip of the seasons nonetheless.  And this 12 months, as appears to all the time be the case, he didn’t see his shadow.  Alas, regardless of little snow, we’ve received some time earlier than these crocuses peek their sleepy heads above floor.

So on February 2, 2012, the largest query of the day was…the place does one really go to rejoice Imbolc/Feast of St. Brigid/Candlemas/Groundhog Day? I assumed certainly, dwelling simply exterior Boston, with the heavy Irish and Catholic influences, there can be some great ritual awaiting. Alas, a fast search on Google meant we’d should drive to New York Metropolis or catch a flight to Dublin.  Or wait a couple of days for the weekend.  However we had been able to rejoice, and it was HER day in spite of everything.  So we piled into the minivan and did what we do greatest on a chilly early February day…sat ourselves at a superb native Irish pub, full with a real Irish-speaking bartender, ordered some mussels and cockels and an Irish whiskey, and toasted to the sunshine that was already promising its return.  Slainte!

pictures from Simmons Buntin, Nationwide Geographic,”CANDLEMAS” by Yvette Vetjens by way of celtic woman, and The Anglican Cathedral of Second Life, acbals moon.

Persephone Interval

Extra Be aware: Right here in New England, The tip of the persephone interval (additionally know as persephone days) can also be proper inline with all these different holidays. The persephone interval will get its identify from greek mythology and is a vital time to notice on the gardening calendar. As soon as the daylight return to greater than 10 per day, crops will start to develop once more. In the course of the darkness (whereas daylight are lower than 10 and we’re thought of to be within the Persephone interval) all crops will basically cease rising.