In neo-pagan traditions, in the Northern Hemisphere, February 2nd is known as Imbolc.
Imbolc was a Gaelic festival, marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The longest, darkest night of the year is behind us, and the days are very slowly lengthening.
Imbolc celebrations vary, from the spiritual to the mundane, but generally mark the first stirrings of spring. I'm no longer an active pagan, I guess you could put it, but if I had an altar, it would be festooned with the trappings of the warming season.
We've had a cold winter this year and I'm looking forward to spring like a little kid looks forward to Christmas. I'm ready for sunlight and soft breezes and the smell of green things growing.
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4 comments:
Imbolc, now this is cool. I live in the South and we had a once in twenty years snow. It doesn't happen often but it is still a wonder. Anyway this winter has been cold and I wouldn't be surprised if we had another. I noticed the peach trees are reddening. Getting ready for the blooms that show up in late February. They feel the stirrings of spring.
I've lived in Middle and East TN the last 10 years. The last four winters have been...a little odd to say the least, jumping between warm and freezing with sporadic snow and sleet.
This past week, we had snow and ice that shut down the town and schools. As pretty as I find the snow, I'm hoping this was the last bit for the season.
This is lovely. We here in California have had the opposite. A winter mostly spent in the unseasonable 70s and 80s. Yesterday it rained and we rejoiced. Still, like you, I so love spring.
I'm never satisfied when it comes to winter. My ideal is two weeks (maybe less) of frost and snow, right around the solstice and Christmas....and then I want to get back into the 50s.
But, I suppose the worse the winter, the more I appreciate the spring.
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