Kyndelmisse/Imbolc/Candlemas

Mid Winter Kyndelmisse/ Imbolc/ Candlemas is a late Winter and early Spring celebration at the same time. True to the energy of the Winter season, it is a time to plan for the coming of the rest of the year. What to grow, what to expect. This is a time where the seeds are still buried deep in the soil of Mother Earth, but they start to dream about sprouting in the very near future.

Imbolc has been a celebration of light for both indigenous and Christian cultures. In the indigenous traditions much of this day is grounded in the seasons—estimating how soon spring-like weather will come and when to plant the crops. Originally, this day was called Imbolc (lambs’ milk) because the lambing season began. It was also called Brigantia for the Celtic female deity of light, calling attention to the Sun being halfway on its advance from the winter solstice to the spring equinox.

In the Christian tradition, the name Candlemas acquired its English name from the candles lit that day in churches to celebrate the presentation of the Christ Child in the temple of Jerusalem.

When: February 2, Imbolc/Candlemas

The Goddess Brighid

Deep in ancient history, all the way from the regions of eastern Europe and India to the British Isles, are the roots of the worship of the Goddess Brighid. Spelled Brigit, Bridget, and Bride (pronounced “breed“), it means “Fiery Arrow” or “Bright One”. Other names referring to the Goddess Brighid are “Mother of All Wisdom”, “Bright One”, “Exalted One”, “Flame of 2 Eternities”, “Ashless Flame”.

Brighid is the Flame in the Hearts of All Women! She was always a Fire Goddess and also a Water Goddess. She was, and remains, the most powerful and powerfully worshiped Goddess in the British Isles from long, long before the advent of Christianity.

Brighid was probably originally a Sun Goddess. The story of Her birth is that She was born at sunrise, and a tower of flame burst forth from the newborn’s forehead reaching from the Earth to the Sun.

Brighid is considered a triple Goddess, but not in the sense many think of as maiden, mother, crone. She has three aspects and all have associations with Fire and Water: Brighid the Healer and Midwife, Brighid the Smith-Craftswoman-Warrior, and Brighid the Inspirer of all arts particularly the written and spoken.

Brighid the Healer

As Brighid the Healer, Her wells and springs figure prominently, as their water is considered holy and healing. She is a Water Goddess. In this aspect She is the teacher of herbal and plant medicine. She is the midwife for birthing women. She is the guardian and caretaker of household domestic animals, particularly cows. She Herself travels with 2 Sacred Oxen, and the white cow, the white swan, and the white wolf are associated with Her as totems. One of the symbols associated with Brighid is the white wand around which a snake is entwined. And this symbol pre-dates Asclepius, the Healer God of the Greeks whose symbol was a serpent coiled around a rod.

The swan is used as a symbol of Imbolg. The swan mates for life and represents loyalty, faithfulness and faithfulness. In addition, swan feathers are a powerful amulet. Read more about Swan Medicine here.

Brighid the Smith

Brighid the Smith is mistress of the smithy fire, the anvil. She is associated with horses in this aspect. But this also extends to fine jewelrysmith workings - silver and gold - and any craft that a person might practice and seek to master. She was also then, the creator of swords, daggers, knives, shields and all weapons of protection, as well as cooking vessels and implements. The Hearthfire is sacred to Brighid, and its association with nourishment, food, and health of a family. It was also a place where people gathered together to tell stories, as the oral tradition was sacrosanct to the Celtic peoples.

Brighid the Inspirer

And that leads to the third aspect of the Goddess, Brighid the Bard, the Inspirer of the Fire in the Heart and Mind, which produces song, music, poetry, stories, writing, eloquence, theatrical performances, and the harp. Although the oral tradition was extremely important to the Celts, and there were people who spent their lives gathering and remembering the stories of their people, Brighid is said to have invented “talking marks,” the Ogham, or writing. And since all of these are associated with the Element of Air, She is also an Air Goddess.

Brighid is the Goddess associated with Imbolc, the holy days celebrated from the eve on January 31st until the night of February 2nd. It is the beginning of the first signs of Spring’s return. As a Goddess of fertility, household farm animals, plants, trees, She presides over the first buds of plants, the earliest flowers like the snowdrops, and lambs and calves which begin to be born at this time of year. That is why milk, cheese, butter are all set outside on Imbolc Eve to honor her and feed her oxen, as She is said to walk the land on Imbolc Eve.

Brighid’s cross

Brighid’s cross of rushes, which was co-opted by the Church, is thought to have been originally a solar cross or sun wheel indicating the movement of the Sun in the turning of the great Wheel of the Year. People still make these today in the British Isles and Ireland and hang them over the front door for protection, laying the one for the previous year on the hearth fire. Many candles are lit all over the home to encourage and reflect the returning light of the sun, and bonfires are lit outdoors.

Strips or squares of cloth are laid outside the door on Imbolc Eve or hung out the ground floor window for Brighid to bless as She passes, and they are brought in the next day to use when healing is needed throughout the year. Fabric bits or strips called clooties are also tied on branches of trees overhanging a Sacred Well or Sacred Spring as prayers to Brighid for healing (this custom happens all year round).

May She bless you with Her mighty strength in this fragile season, in this liminal season as Winter turns to Spring and the earliest flowers of white and green venture forth from the snow seeking the Sun, our hearts greet them with a smile.

MIDWINTER/IMBOLc RITUAL

And old tradition was to light a candle at sunset different places in the home, preferably by the windows and let them burn during the night. And during the day, Winter was ‘swept away’. In today’s world, where we do have lights everywhere in our home, a different way to honour the Imbolc can be to light a candle or do a mini fire ceremony to let go of winter and welcome the light.