3 Festivals in One Day February 2!

January 26, 2024

Wow, what a week!  There are plenty of reasons to celebrate this week. We have Candlemas, Imbolc, and the Feast of Saint Brigid, all occurring on February 2. It marks the middle of Winter and holds the promise of Spring.  This is a time of purification, cleansing, and purging after time spent reflecting during the Yuletide. It’s a time to shake off that dust, lift your chin up, take a deep breath of fresh air, and take charge of your life. Life is cyclical; all things end but are met with new beginnings.  Embrace the ever-present energy that moves us forward, that reminds us every stage of life is temporary.

History of Candlemas

Near the end of the winter season, as ancient people looked forward to the planting season of spring, many different cultures found ways to celebrate this shift from the cold and dark days to a happier and more productive time of year. Ancient Celts took this time of year to honor the Goddess Brigid. Brigid was the Goddess of purification and fertility. They would honor her by processing from the village across the fields while praying for the health of their soil before planting.

When Christianity was moving through the world, they too decided to place a festival of light around this time of year. Candlemas in the Christian tradition is better known by two different names – The Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus and The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It is based on the Scripture passage in Luke 2:22-40 where the Holy Family journeys to Jerusalem forty days after the birth of Jesus to present him to God and offer sacrifice in the temple. At this time Mary completes the ritual purification required of women after childbirth, and Joseph offers the sacrifice for the redemption of the firstborn.

It is a tradition for the churches to bring forward all of the candles to be used for the rest of the year for a special blessing.

Imbolc

Imbolc is an ancient Celtic festival that marks midwinter in the solar calendar and is a time for preparation for coming out of the dark time of the year and into the light of spring. Although the trees are still bare and there still may be ice and snow, the earth is beginning to stir deep within Her roots. Nature is slowly beginning to wake up!

The same can be said for those who walk a spiritual path.

Many celebrate Imbolc as the Festival of Fire. Bonfires and candles are therefore appropriate for celebration, as are the colors seen in a fire—white, yellow, and orange. Light green can also be used if you’re honoring the lead-up to spring.

The Feast of Saint Brigid

This is the time of celebration for Saint Brigid, which teaches us about healing, home, hearth, birth, inspiration, and the work we must do inside and outside ourselves to walk out of the cold of winter and into the warmth of spring.. St. Brigid is the female equivalent of St. Patrick in Ireland, but there are no parades in her honor.  It is a festival of spiritual purification and dedication.

What You Can Do To Welcome These Celebration Of New Beginnings.                                                               

Do a self purification — Cleanse your body with an Epsom Salts bath (Earth), Your thoughts with incense (Air), Your will with a candle flame (Fire), Your emotions with water (Water), and Your spiritual body with a healing crystal (Spirit).

Bless candles that you will be using throughout the year. Invoke Saint Brigid for creative inspiration.

Take a Nature walk and look for the first signs of Spring. Reflect upon/reaffirm spiritual vows and commitments you have made.     

Take advantage of a Spiritual Reading which will give you guidance on your path.  This is a special time of year to direct your path for the next year.  I have designed different readings that will be perfect to harness the energy of what is occurring now.                                

I offer a variety of services that can help you during this special season.  Remember I also teach Private Classes on any spiritual subject you want to learn about.  Learn More Here.                                                         

Many blessings,
Cherokee Billie

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