Imbolc

Imbolc is a Gaelic festival marking the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is traditionally observed on February 1, though some calendars place it on February 2. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal quarter days (Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, Samhain) that divide the year into segments and is associated with the approach of spring.

The name Imbolc is from Old Irish i mbolg, meaning “in the belly” or “in the womb” of the mother, referencing lambing season and the renewal of herd life. In pre-Christian times it was linked to the goddess Brigid, a deity of hearth, healing, poetry, and smithcraft. With Christianization, Brigid was equated with Saint Brigid of Kildare; the day is also called Brigid’s Day.

The festival emphasizes light and purification as days grow longer. Practices include lighting candles or fires, cleansing homes, and preparing for lambing. Brigid’s crosses and other symbolic crafts from straw or rushes are made and displayed. Offerings of milk, dairy products, bread, or honey may be part of rituals.

Imbolc continues as a cultural and agricultural festival in Gaelic communities and is observed by many neopagans as a fire festival marking renewal. In Catholic and Anglican contexts, the day is associated with Saint Brigid and Candlemas, with some blending of customs.