Imbolc/candlemas 2009

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[Waldfrau]

What are your plans for imbolc/candlemas?

Are you celebrating around the 2nd February or around the 9th at full moon?

***

I haven't fully planned so far. But have an idea of creating tealight holders for the quarters from empty honey glasses. I want to paint elemental themes on them with window colors.

I'd like to celebrate around full moon, but it depends on my schedule.

[Aisling]

What are your plans for imbolc/candlemas?

Are you celebrating around the 2nd February or around the 9th at full moon?

Since I have the day off, I'll most likely celebrate on the 2nd.  Imbolc tends to be very low key and quiet for me.  Most likely, the extent of my celebrations will be making suet for the birds and starting some seeds in pots.  If the weather permits, I'll take a long hike through the woods.  As I said, low key. 

[folksymama]

What are your plans for imbolc/candlemas?

Are you celebrating around the 2nd February or around the 9th at full moon?

***

I haven't fully planned so far. But have an idea of creating tealight holders for the quarters from empty honey glasses. I want to paint elemental themes on them with window colors.

I'd like to celebrate around full moon, but it depends on my schedule.

We celebrate on the 2nd.  We make a corn dolly, and then we light candles in each room of the house and ask for Brighid's blessing.  I'm going to work on my Brighid's mantle during my cill shift and leave it outside for her blessing.  I might try to make some candles and leave them out to be blessed as well, but I don't know if I'll have time.  I'll leave her an offering (not sure what yet, but I might have fresh goat's milk if kidding goes as planned). 

Pretty low key here as well. 

[Juniper]

What are your plans for imbolc/candlemas?

Are you celebrating around the 2nd February or around the 9th at full moon?

I'll celebrate on the 2nd. Imbolc is one of my favourite festivals of the year, albeit one of my most low-key celebrations. I shall go outside on a long walk to meditate, come back and make some soup, and light my Spring candles. I have a beautiful soy candle that is pale green and is grass scented (which sounds a bit odd, but it actually smells wonderful).

Back in England I would always go on a hunt for snow-drops and would be overjoyed if I saw one. But I'm unsure if those flowers grow around here, as nobody knows what I'm talking about. Perhaps they are called something different.

[Aster Breo]

I'll be celebrating starting the evening of January 31 through sundown on February 1.  (There seems to be various ideas about whether Imbolc is February 1 or 2.  I personally think it probably wasn't tied to a specific calendar day at first, and is more about the very earliest signs of spring.)

Anyway, I will put my Brat Bhride (and possibly something else) out for Brighid to bless on her way through.  I'll be making my usual Brighid's crosses (out of pipecleaners).  I usually make several and give them to my family and very close friends.

I'm probably also going to have something special to eat as a token feast.  I'm thinking maybe cheesecake, because of the link to milk.  That will also be an offering, along with some cream.

I'll also do the group keeping with other TC Cill members.

[Elisabette]

I'll be celebrating on the 2'nd.  I'll probably start some seeds in pots, and if I can get a chance to pick up materials I'd like to try making some Brighid's crosses this year. 

I tend to mentally compartmentalize the year around the solstices and equinoxes; at Imbolc I start orienting myself toward the spring equinox, rather than away from the winter solstice.  A lot of the winter bleakness starts to lift for me and I feel a lot better after Imbolc. 

Betty

[Waldfrau]

Thanks to all for the interesting answers. I wonder how you all decorate your altars? Which colors, which items?

I'm still wondering about that myself. I have a spiral teelight holder I might use.

[FierFlye]

What are your plans for imbolc/candlemas?

I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that I've nothing to celebrate on imbolc.  Though I admire the stories of Brigid I don't work with her or any deities.  And while some celebrate the first signs of spring at this time, here in Michigan we are just beginning the season of Still Winter.  The average temperature is right at freezing, and no little flowers will appear for another month.  It's even too early to start seeds indoors because they can't safely be transferred into the ground until the end of May.

*sigh*  It's a depressing season.

[folksymama]

I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that I've nothing to celebrate on imbolc.  Though I admire the stories of Brigid I don't work with her or any deities.  And while some celebrate the first signs of spring at this time, here in Michigan we are just beginning the season of Still Winter.  The average temperature is right at freezing, and no little flowers will appear for another month.  It's even too early to start seeds indoors because they can't safely be transferred into the ground until the end of May.

*sigh*  It's a depressing season.

We're definitely immersed deeply in still winter here too, and no signs of spring at that point, other than the goats kidding, which is right in tune with the holiday.  But then again, the goats kid in January and June too, so I don't put too much stock in that necessarily.  However, the idea of Imbolc, even if I can't see the signs, gives me hope.  I know that even though it's colder than a witch's titty, it will get better, and winter won't be as long as it has been.

[Juniper]

Thanks to all for the interesting answers. I wonder how you all decorate your altars? Which colors, which items?

White and pale yellow. I have found some lovely artificial flowers and I shall weave them into a wreath I have. I will probably decorate my altar with these flowers, too. Of course there is no substitution for real flowers, but I tend not to buy them at this time of year and artificial ones last longer anyway!

[Aster Breo]

*sigh*  It's a depressing season.

Maybe that's the point (or *a* point) of celebrating Imbolc.  People in the middle of winter, when fresh food has pretty much run out, really need a party to pick up their spirits.   There is a local custom of baking large, sweet cakes for Brighid's Day.  (I'm thinking of making a cheese cake because of Imbolc's and Brighid's association with milk.

Imbolc is about hope.  There's a tradition/folk custom that seeing a hedgehog on Imbolc is a sign of good weather to come.  The longer the hedgehog stays out, the milder the weather.  (I *think* I've read the same basic thing about seeing snakes on Imbolc, but I can't find the reference now.)

Imbolc is also about preparation and purification.  This is the time when farmers would use ritual to purify their field, and when they would start work to be prepared for sowing.  The Feast of Purification (which is about Mary's ritual purification after giving birth, I think) is February 2 -- the day after Brighid's Day, or Imbolc.  I'm planning to do some major cleaning on or around Imbolc, in the spirit of preparation and purification.

I don't know if this helps, but it does provide a couple of different ways to look at celebrating Imbolc.

[stardancer]

I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that I've nothing to celebrate on imbolc.  Though I admire the stories of Brigid I don't work with her or any deities.  And while some celebrate the first signs of spring at this time, here in Michigan we are just beginning the season of Still Winter.  The average temperature is right at freezing, and no little flowers will appear for another month.  It's even too early to start seeds indoors because they can't safely be transferred into the ground until the end of May.

*sigh*  It's a depressing season.

The climate is very much the same here - but I have a hill obstructing the sunlight for a few weeks around the winter solstice. On the 1./2. of February finally the sun climbs over it and floods my livingroom. I have little to no relationship to Brigid or goats, and there are no flowers for at least another month. But I will be celebrating the sun getting higher and promising the Equinox and seedstarting season.

And for the last three years, there has indeed been a break in the clouds at midday Imbolc so I can actually see the sun. 

Stardancer

[Garnet]

What are your plans for imbolc/candlemas?

Well, I'll be leading a Thelemic ritual this year.  I had been thinking about getting enough of my stuff unpacked from my living room to do the Pea-Hater's and my ritual by the fireplace.  I've been very busy and that doesn't look like it's happening, but I do still want to do a ritual with him honoring Brighid.

[Maggie]

I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that I've nothing to celebrate on imbolc.  Though I admire the stories of Brigid I don't work with her or any deities.  And while some celebrate the first signs of spring at this time, here in Michigan we are just beginning the season of Still Winter.  The average temperature is right at freezing, and no little flowers will appear for another month.  It's even too early to start seeds indoors because they can't safely be transferred into the ground until the end of May.

*sigh*  It's a depressing season.

I also have never worked with Brigid or any deities although I am interested in learning.  I live on the shores of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania so our weather is not dissimilar.  I feel your pain. 

One of the local ADF groups is having an Imbolc celebration on the evening of the 1st.  I may go to that as they are honoring Nerthus, Freyr, and Freya.  I try to thank Nerthus each day at sunrise or as soon as I realize that sunrise has occurred.  That is about the only regular deity thing that I do, so maybe attending this ritual will give me some insight or bring me closer to some kind of relationship with her.  I just have a hard time conceiving a higher being that would be interested in my life.  Sometimes I'm barely interested in my life.  

[Casey]

What are your plans for imbolc/candlemas?

Are you celebrating around the 2nd February or around the 9th at full moon?

My family and I will be having a private celebration on the 1st of February.  It will conviently coincide with the unpacking ceremony that comes with moving into a new home. 

It will probably be something simple.  No blots for me as this is all her thing. 

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