Merry Meet!
On February 2 while the rest of the US celebrates Groundhog Day, the Wiccan world celebrates this day as Imbolc. It is the first of the Spring festivals and has been called Candlemass and is associated with the Feast of the Presentation in the Catholic Church.
This is one of my favorite festivals since winter in Minnesota can be terribly long and cold. Lets travel down memory lane for a bit and I will share some of my current celebrations.
Imbolc was celebrated as the goddess Bridget's day. Bridget, among her many talents, is the Irish Goddess of health, healing, and the forge. In ancient times farmers would bless their crops with offerings of milk and honey to bless it for the coming year. A corn doll would be made and blessed and also burnt as an offering for abundance. My personal favorite is that candle for use during the upcoming cycle would be made and blessed.
In many parts of the world the first signs of spring are starting to appear, Warmer season birds return, crocuses and small bulb flowers start to bloom and plans are made for what to plant and where.
Here in northern Minnesota we don't always see the tiny green slivers of bulb flowers but we do start seeing seed catalogs and basketball season starts. We can always get a good blizzard in before the state high school basketball playoffs in March.
My personal favorite way to spend the holiday is dreaming of indoor gardens and having a chili feed with sweet corn bread. We start planning the camping season ahead and the outdoor projects that will need to start happening.
Its a great time of year to breath and look with expectation for the work that is a head and the growth that will result from it.
I hope your coming season gives you much to look forward to.
Blessed Be!
Em
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