Salut to Imbolc

So often it feels like I am late to the party, and here I am again, but I want to take a moment to celebrate the spring celebration of Imbolc anyway.  Imbolc is officially celebrated from sunrise on February 1 to sunset on February 2.

Imbolc is an ancient festival celebrating the change in seasons from winter to spring.  The daffodils springing up along the path to the goat yard in our woodland forest caught my eye the other day.  The first signs of spring are here, and I am so happy and grateful for it.

This ancient tradition of Imbolc, sometimes spelled Imbolg, occurs midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.  One suggestion about the meaning of Imbolc relates to the old Irish term i mbolg, which translates roughly as "in the belly".  This is thought to refer to ewes, which at this time of year would be heavily pregnant and about to give birth to their lambs.

In the goat yard, I don't have any pregnant goats at this time...thankfully.  More baby goats are something I definitely don't need.  But because my goats are not pregnant, the spring weather arouses the need to procreate, code for, my does are in heat and my buck is in a rut.  This makes for some hilarious moments in the goat yard.  All kinds of courting and battling for love can take place at this time.  I was lucky enough to get a little bit of footage of this the other day.  So, I made a video.  I’ll leave a link to it below.

Did Someone Say Spring?

One thing that seems certain is that Imbolc has ancient origins predating Christianity.  It possibly even predates the arrival of the Celts in Ireland.  It seems that recently, as people of the 21^st century strive to reconnect with nature, the seasonal celebration of Imbolc has grown in awareness and popularity.

It is not difficult to see why our ancestors would find cause for celebration in this early springtime part of the year, when days become longer and there is more light.  New growth appears not only in the vegetation, but also in the animals, which would have been especially important in ancient times, but not for our goat yard right now.  At the time of Imbolc 2024, I am giving thanks for the flowers and light and lengthening day, and extra thanks for NOT pregnant goats.

The celebration is a mix between old Celtic and Christian traditions in Ireland.  The Celtic Goddess Brigid is associated with spring, the cycle of life, fertility and birth.  Brigid, sometimes also known as Brighid, Brid or Brigit, is honored at the celebration of Imbolc.  Some of her other attributes that are celebrated are healing, poetry and smithcraft.  She often represents light and is sometimes depicted as having flames or fire in her hands. Christianity later incorporated Brigid into their teaching and it is thought that she became known as Saint Brigid.  Below is a collage of St. Brigid that I created in 2011.

There are many possible goodwill blessings that you could wish someone for Imbolc.  I will leave you with this ancient Irish blessing and wishes for you to find joy, rebirth and awakening at this time of Light and celebration.

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day,
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way,
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue, 
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.

May the blessings of light be on you,
Light without and light within,
May the blessed sunlight shine on you till it glows like a great peat fire.