Early February, in the agricultural calendar of the Celts, marks the festival of Imbolc. Imbolc means ‘in the belly’ in Irish and, coming at the start of the lambing season, it celebrates the return of the sun, the onset of spring, and the hope of returning life.

Nine months ago, at the maytide feast of Beltane, we witnessed the union of the youthful corn maid Mary-Anne (or Marian) and the virile Green Man. From then on their relationship rather resembled a story line from Eastenders. Mary-Anne grew to maturity, but by the end of summer the Green Man had deserted her - some say to go across the sea in pursuit of his dastardly dark brother. The maternal Anne aged during the harvest to become Black Anne, the barren crone of winter. Embodied in the last sheaf of corn to be cut down, she was taken indoors and kept safe throughout the dark months.

Now, at Imbolc, she is named Brigid after the Celtic goddess of regeneration. Her reappearance as a corn doll attired in female clothing is traditionally heralded by a threefold welcome:

Brigid is come. Brigid is welcome.
Brigid is come. Brigid is welcome.
Brigid is come. Brigid is welcome.

It was customary for the Brigid doll to be paraded around the community before being ploughed back into the field to aid the growth of the new crop and attain rebirth. She therefore represents both the wisdom of the past and the vitality of the future. She brings the prospect of renewed hope and fruitfulness to all our lives. This nurturing aspect of Brigid has been Christianised as St Brigit, who is said to have been midwife to the Virgin Mary and wet-nurse to the infant Jesus. She is a patron saint of Ireland and sometimes even referred to as ‘Mary of the Gaels’.

Because Imbolc marks the start of both the planting and lambing season it was a crucial time for weather forecasting. It is a long-held belief that the sight of a hedgehog or badger returning to its burrow on this day indicates a prolonged winter. In America this weather lore has been transferred to the badger-like woodchuck on Groundhog Day.

Although the Celtic festivals were originally movable feasts determined by the phase of the moon, Imbolc is now celebrated on the 1st February and is aligned with Candlemas Eve. Candlemas is the day upon which church candles to be used in the coming year were consecrated. It also corresponds to the purification of Mary forty days after the birth of Jesus as dictated by Jewish law. According to the 17th century poet Robert Herrick it was Candlemas Eve, rather than Twelfth Night, that was the last day on which the Christmas decorations could be taken down without incurring misfortune. His poem ‘Ceremony Upon Candlemas Eve’ runs:

Down with the rosemary, and so
Down with the bays and mistletoe;
Down with the holly, ivy, all
Wherewith thee dress’d the Christmas hall;
That so the superstitious find
No one least branch there left behind;
For look, how many leaves there be
Neglected there, maids, trust to me,
So many goblins you shall see.

Another Herrick poem, ‘Ceremonies for Candlemas Eve’, has been set to music and is known as the Candlemas Eve Carol (Click below to listen).

It is symbolically the season to review our lives with joy and excitement, as if though the eyes of a child. It is also a good time to make plans and resolutions, and to nurture the small flickering candle-flame of creativity within us all.

Photo by Joe Johnston

This article has been adapted from celebrations held by Kaz and Phil at the Christchurch Folk music sessions at Ye Olde George Inn in January 2006 & 2007. It is a personal interpretation of folklore and customs and does not presume to represent any particular belief system.

Kaz and Phil successfully combine a reverence for primal archetypes, the turning Wheel of the Year, and Tibetan Buddhism to create psycho-spiritual events that resonate with 21st century living. These events have ranged from presentations of the Celtic agricultural feast days through to larger community-inclusive celebrations. They also share a love of local history and folk music, and regularly perform at local folk venues.

For details see: www.communigate.co.uk/dorset/christchurchfolk

© Text and Main Photograph Philip Tate 2008