| | These ARE February 1st Holidays: Ira’s (SlimPim) Birthday (6:39 AM) and Michael's (OneDarkKnight) (9:30 AM) Imbolc/Imbolg/Oimelc (Wicca) - Go to: www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/imbolclore.htm
  Symbol of Imbolc
Brigmid (Druid Festival) Serpent Day (Celtic) Candlemas Eve - Go to: www.web-holidays.com/candle/index.asp
Imbolc, (pronounced "IM-bulk" or "EM-bowlk"), also called Oimealg, ("IM-mol'g), by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc" which means "ewes milk". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth. 1/31 eve to 2/4 eve: Mid-Winter/Groundhog's Day/Candlemas--Festival marking the transformation from death to life - the beginning of the agricultural year, awakening of hibernating animals, and return of migrating birds and fish. Observed with a candlelight procession to bless fields and seeds, recognition of newborns, and contemplation of life. 
If Candlemas day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas day be clouds and rain,
Winter is gone, and will not come again.
--E. Holden, old English song If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be twa (two) winters in the year.
Scottish Couplet In Gaelic this holiday is known as Là Fhèill Brìghde nan coinnlean which translates as "The feast day of Brìghde of the candles". Bìghde is Bridget of Kildare, the Celtic goddess of fire, the hearth, smithy, fields, poetry and childbirth. She also gives blessings to women who are about to marry. Women still bear her name on their wedding day to honor her. They are called [a] Bride for the day. On the feast day, Bridget would visit and bless homes. If the sun was seen on this day winter was over but if the sun was hidden behind clouds winter was still to come. In the British Isles, spring is already on its way. Flower buds are poking through and the greenery is returning. Milk begins to flow in the udders of cows and sheep as they ready for the birth of their offspring. Older pagan names for Candlemas include Imbolc and Oimelc. Oimelc meaning "milk of ewes" and Imbolc translates as "in the belly" (pertaining to the earth). |
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