Imbolc and Mid-Winter Holy Days: Celebrating the Primordial Time of Year
I have two words for 2025. My first word is DEVOTION and my second is INTEGRATION. I want to integrate all the parts and past versions of myself into my whole being. This is why I am choosing to host eight retreats based on the Wheel of the Year. I want to better understand my ancestors and how they related to the cycles of the seasons and nature while connecting in community with other wise and wild women.
The first retreat in the series is to honor the mid-winter time. Many cultures celebrate this time in their own ways. I am focusing on the Celtic tradition or Imbolc as it connects me to my own ancestry. Whatever cultural reverence you connect to for this time of year can be utilized in understanding the gifts that come with honoring this time of year as many cultures around the world. There are long honored mid-winter rituals, festivals, and traditions that invite reflection, renewal, and the hope of light returning. Imbolc is an ancient Celtic celebration marking the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. There are many different holidays that center on this "slow" time of the year, each with unique practices and meanings. My hope is to explore these traditions and ways to honor this sacred time of year to better understand them for ourselves and the world we live in.
Imbolc: A Celtic Festival of Light and Fertility
Imbolc, traditionally celebrated around February 1st or 2nd, signifies a time of transition from the deep quiet of winter toward the promise of spring. The name "Imbolc" is often believed to derive from the Old Irish word i mbolc, meaning "in the belly," symbolizing the growing fertility of the land and animals.
Imbolc honors Brigid, the goddess of fertility, healing, poetry, and smithcraft in Celtic mythology. She is associated with the hearth, domesticity, and the arts, and is later syncretized into St. Brigid of Kildare, the patron saint of Ireland. This festival is rich with symbols of light and fire, marking the gradual return of the sun’s strength as days lengthen.
Celtic Practices and Traditions to Honor Imbolc
Lighting Candles: Since Imbolc is a festival of light, lighting candles is one of the most important traditions. The practice honors Brigid’s association with fire and symbolizes the return of light as the darkness of winter begins to recede. People may place candles on their windowsills or create candlelit altars to invoke the goddess’ blessings of warmth and illumination.
Making Brigid’s Crosses: A popular practice at Imbolc is crafting Brigid’s crosses, which are typically made from rushes or straw. These crosses are believed to bring protection to homes, livestock, and people throughout the year. Traditionally, these crosses were hung above doors or in barns to guard against misfortune.
Spring Cleaning and Renewal: Imbolc is a time to prepare for the coming spring, and many people engage in a form of spring cleaning or tidying of their homes. This symbolic purification aligns with the themes of renewal and fresh starts. It’s a time to reflect on what no longer serves and clear out the old, making space for new growth and opportunities.
Honoring the Earth: Imbolc, like many other mid-winter festivals, has strong ties to agriculture and the earth’s cycles. Though the land may still appear dormant, Imbolc calls attention to the quiet preparation for the growth and fertility that will soon unfold. It is a wonderful time to honor the cycles of nature, acknowledging the need for rest before the season of renewal.
Other Mid-Winter Festivals Around the World
Across the globe, several cultures observe mid-winter festivals that similarly honor light, rebirth, and the quiet time of year. Let’s take a look at a few.
Candlemas (February 2nd) – Christian Tradition
Candlemas, celebrated on February 2nd, falls close to Imbolc and has similar themes. In the Christian tradition, it marks the day when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the temple. The holiday’s association with light comes from the biblical passage referring to Jesus as “a light to lighten the Gentiles.” Many Christian communities celebrate by blessing candles and processions. In some cultures, Candlemas is considered a day to anticipate the arrival of spring and is marked by various customs and foods, including eating pancakes or crepes.
Lunar New Year (Late January to February) – East Asian Traditions
This is the Year of the Snake for 2025 on the Lunar Calendar. The Lunar New Year, celebrated widely in East Asia, marks the beginning of a new year on the lunar calendar and is steeped in ancient traditions. While its exact timing varies, the holiday usually falls sometime between January 21 and February 20. The festival is rooted in honoring ancestors and the Earth’s natural cycles, and it is often linked with rituals meant to expel negative energy and invite blessings for the new year. Red is a prominent color, symbolizing luck, joy, and happiness. In some cultures, people clean their homes, give offerings, enjoy feasts, and light fireworks to banish evil spirits.
The Midwinter Festival of the Winter Solstice – Scandinavia
In Scandinavian countries, the midwinter season is honored with a variety of traditions connected to the Winter Solstice, which marks the shortest day of the year. In countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, people celebrate with festivals like St. Lucia’s Day (December 13th), which honors the saint with candles, processions, and music. Additionally, many cultures in the Nordic region celebrate Yule, a festival that celebrates the rebirth of the sun and the lengthening of days. Yule traditions often include feasts, dancing, singing, and lighting candles or a Yule log, which symbolized the hope for the return of warmth.
Sankranti (January 14th) – Hindu Tradition
In India, the festival of Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into the Capricorn zodiac sign and is celebrated as the end of the winter solstice. It is one of the most significant Hindu festivals, symbolizing the return of longer days and the sun’s strength. People celebrate with outdoor activities such as flying kites, singing, dancing, and preparing sweets made from sesame and jaggery, believed to provide warmth and energy during the cold season.
Dongzhi Festival (December 21st-23rd) – Chinese and East Asian Traditions
The Dongzhi Festival celebrates the Winter Solstice and is one of the most important traditional holidays in China. The festival marks the arrival of longer days and symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness. It is a time to reunite with family, eat special foods like tangyuan (sweet rice dumplings), and honor the cycles of the earth. The holiday reflects themes of harmony and balance, as it is also linked to the concept of yin and yang, with the solstice marking the peak of yin energy before the return of yang.
Ways to Honor the Slow Time of Year
While the world around us starts to slow down during mid-winter, it’s a time of great potential and growth, albeit in a quieter, more introspective manner. Honoring the stillness of winter allows us to reflect on the past year and prepare for the energy and possibilities of the new season. Here are some ways to honor this slower time of year:
Rest and Reflection: Winter is naturally a time of rest, where nature takes a pause. Honor this by slowing down yourself, creating space for rest, and engaging in personal reflection. This could mean journaling, meditating, or taking quiet walks in nature. It is also a perfect time to read or learn something new, perhaps focusing on spiritual growth or creativity.
Create Sacred Space: Whether through a personal altar, a candlelit dinner, or a quiet moment by the fire, make your space reflect the sacredness of this season. Use symbols like candles, evergreen branches, or crystals to represent light and growth. Keep the energy of peace and calm.
Craft and Create: Winter offers a unique opportunity to engage in creative practices, such as knitting, making pottery, painting, or writing. This time can also be used for introspective artistic expression, honoring the goddess Brigid’s connection to poetry and the arts.
Feasting and Food: Traditional foods play an important role in these mid-winter festivals. Warm stews, root vegetables, bread, and soups are comforting and nourishing, providing sustenance during the long, cold days. Honor the earth’s seasonal offerings by enjoying seasonal dishes and preparing foods that symbolize warmth and renewal.
Reconnect with Nature: Even in the cold, nature has wisdom to offer. Take time to observe the bare trees, the quiet landscapes, and the subtle changes in the natural world. Consider nature walks or birdwatching to witness the silent but steady movement of the natural world.
Light and Fire: Whether through candles, lanterns, or a fireplace, light is an important symbol during this time. As you light a candle, take a moment to reflect on the return of the sun and the renewal of energy. You might even write intentions or wishes for the coming months, offering them to the fire or light.