"In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow;
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter
Long ago." (Christina Rossetti)
Today is St. Bridget's Day, also known as Imbolc, and marks the beginning of Spring, which is hard for me to grasp. Yet my Celtic forebears viewed this date as the arrival of longer, warmer days and early signs of spring - midway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. It marks the beginning of lambing season and the stirrings of new life. It is the promise of renewal.
Imbolc is the time to let go of the past and look to the future; clear out the old and make space for new beginnings. (Think spring cleaning.)
St. Bridget is the patron saint of babies, midwives, boatmen, dairymaids, poultry farmers, cattlemen, the poor, scholars and poets, to name just a few. In ancient Irish mythology, she was a fire goddess.
Imbolc begins today and continues into tomorrow. February 2nd - Groundhog Day. The day we traditionally wait for to see whether or not the Groundhog sees its shadow. Will we have and early Spring or six more weeks of winter?
Regardless of the traditions, even with snow on the ground and in the forecast, Spring will be here soon and that is something to celebrate.
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