Wheel of the Year: Lunar Sabbat Imbolc
Since 1887, hundreds of thousands of Americans have gathered in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to catch a glimpse of Phil, the famous weather-divining groundhog. On the morning of February 2nd, Phil emerges from his den. If Phil encounters his shadow, six more weeks of winter are predicted. If he does not, an early spring is predicted.
Over the years there have been multiple “Phils” and the culmination of their predictions have had less than a 40% accuracy rate. Yet, roughly between 20 and 30 thousand people gather every Groundhog Day to witness the rodent divination ceremony. So this bears the question: If Phil’s accuracy is less than half, what is the attraction that keeps this weather-diving tradition alive? Perhaps just maybe it is the ancient pagan traditions associated with Phil the Groundhog.
Groundhog Day is a modern variation of the ancient Celtic holiday of Imbolc. Also known as Errach and Oimelc, Imbolc is the half-way point between the Winter Solstice/Yule, and the Spring Equinox/Ostara on the Wheel of the Year. The name of the Sabbat either translates to “in the belly of the mother” (Imbolc), or “ewe’s milk” (Oimelc) since the Sabbat coincides with the season when many animals give birth to their first offspring of the year. It is also the time of year when the first signs of spring can be seen with trees budding and green shoots emerging through the frozen ground and the snow.
This quickening of life is illustrated within the story of creation. In Aradia: Gospel of the Witches, the text states that the physical world, the God, was born through an explosion of fire and light. When the Goddess beheld Her creation, She trembled with desire- and the trembling became the dawn.
As Imbolc marks the dawn of spring and the approaching light half of the Wheel of the Year, it is a Lunar Sabbat dedicated to the Maiden Goddess and the Young God. And while there are numerous Maiden Goddesses, including: Aradia, Eos and Vesta, the most venerated Maiden worshiped during Imbolc is the Celtic Fire Goddess Brigit/Brigid/Bride.
Brigid (or the Exalted One), is the Celtic Goddess of fire, passion, water, sacred wells and springs, the dawn, the season of spring, fertility, creativity and life. Beloved by poets, she was the master of both healing and smithing. Her status as a fire goddess was also apparent in her connection to the sun and dawn in particular. Imbolc reflected the sun returning to the world as winter’s hold on the land lessened.
Brigid’s holiday, Imbolc, began at sundown on February 1st and continued to sundown on February 2nd. During the holiday, offerings such as food or coins were brought to waterways or wells (sites named in Brigid’s honor were especially popular). Those seeking her blessings often asked for healing or inspiration but might also ask for protection (often for their household, children, and/or livestock).
Celebrants made straw crosses to hang above their doors, as well as straw effigies of the Goddess. The effigies, too, would bring protection to the households. Likewise, young children would make small straw dolls representing the Goddess which would be placed in a basket and set outside the front door in honor of Brigid. After the Imbolc celebration, the straw effigies would be placed in fields to protect crops and encourage growth.
By now you may be asking: What about the connection between Groundhog Day and weather Divination? Well the answer is that weather divination was indeed practiced by the Celts during Imbolc. Although the animal chosen for the divination was always one associated with the Goddess Brigid, the kind of animal used differed depending on the geographical location. In Ireland, the animal was typically a hedgehog. In Germany, a badger was usually chosen. In Scotland, snakes predicted the weather and change of the seasons.
The Imbolc celebration traditionally included large bon fires to honor the Goddess Brigit and to encourage the growth of the sun and Young God. Within the home, candles would be lit for the same purpose. Not too surprisingly, this tradition eventually morphed into the Christian holiday of Candlemas!
The Goddess Brigid was so popular with the Celts that, like Candlemas, She was eventually transformed into St. Brigid of Kildare. Similar to the Goddess Brigid, who’s temple was attended by virgin priestesses that never allowed the sacred fire of Brigid to extinguish, the Saint’s shrine was attended by 19 nuns who kept a fire continually burning in her honor.
Although most of the ancient celebrations of Imbolc have been forgotten, the modern-day Wiccan can honor the turning of the Wheel of the Year and the growth of the sun in numerous ways. We can light candles, we can make crafts, we can bless coins and toss them into fountains or we can host meals for loved ones serving blessed breads forged in the fires of our ovens. Most importantly, we can take a moment to assess our past mistakes and the lessons learned through hardships and incorporate what we’ve learned into the tasks of the season ahead. Imbolc is our opportunity to see the promises of the Goddess in the budding of spring, to be thankful for Her gift of life and renewed possibilities.
– The Goddess Kingdom© 2024
