Candlemas/Imbolc/Groundhog Day

What do a groundhog, purification of a Blessed Virgin, a Fire Goddess, pregnant animals, sore throats and candles all have in common?

And, the answer is--all of them are part of the rites and rituals incorporated into the celebration of Light that occurs every year on February 2. Candlemas is an interesting mix of Pagan and Christian beliefs that begins on the eve of February 1. The Celtics called this evening Imbolc.

According to the wheel of the year, the Winter Solstice or Yule, and the Summer Solstice or Litha were major celebrations. So were the Fall Equinox or Mabon and the Spring Equinox or Ostara. Each of these harkened the changing of the seasons. The other festival days fell in between each of these, including Beltane in May, Lammas in August, Samhain in October, and Imbolc in February, the midpoint between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.

Imbolc literally means “in milk.” When the ancient Celts saw the pregnant animals going by they knew that Spring would be arriving shortly. And, with Spring, there would be fresh milk, and the hunt would be successful once again, after the long bleak winter.

The Goddess associated with Imbolc is Brigid. February 2 is also known as the Feast of St. Bridget, or Bride’s Day, the Christian version of the Celtic festival Imbolc. Brighid, Brigid or Bride, is the only Pagan Goddess to become a Saint. In her Pagan Goddess Guide she is the Goddess of smiths, poets, and the hearth. In her Saint guise, she is the “foster mother” of Christ, or Mary’s midwife. In Kildare there was a shrine dedicated to her with an eternal flame that was kept burning first by Pagan Priestesses and later by Christian nuns.

To Medieval Christians, February 2 was the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Early Jewish law stated that a woman who had given birth was “unclean” for a certain number of days. So for 40 days after the birth of a son, and even more days after the birth of a daughter, a woman could not enter the temple. After the allotted number of days, a woman was expected by temple law to present herself for the “purification” process. Basically, a woman was not allowed out of her house until that day, and the ritual performed allowed her once again to “look upon the earth and sky.” She could also resume intercourse with her husband again at this time.

This custom carried over to the Catholic church as Mary became an important part of their rites and rituals. In the Catholic tradition, this ritual was known as “churching." Many of the same rules applied, but women were allowed to leave their houses, and there was no specific allotted time between the birth of a child and the purification process. Hence, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary became a holy day for the Catholics.

February 2 also is host to another Christian Feast Day in honor of St. Blaise, who happens to be the Patron Saint of throat ailments. With the freezing, snowy days of February coming into being, colds, coughs, and sore throats abounded. Therefore, it was an excellent time to perform the “Blessing of the Throats.” This ritual involved the Priest giving a special blessing, while attendants held crossed candles beneath each person’s throat. My husband, who was a Catholic as a child, remembers having this blessing done.

Every one of these celebrations involved the lighting of candles. Here, once again, light plays an important part in the rituals associated with Winter. The Celts burned torches and bonfires in honor of Brigid, and also to welcome back the Sun. Catholics burned and still burn candles in veneration of Mary, hence the name Candlemas. Candles blessed at Candlemas where considered to be lucky. In some parts of the world, candles were burned on the evening before to protect against thunder and evil magic.

And, of course we have Groundhog Day, which is a whole other article. Animals have been looked upon since ancient times to predict the weather ahead. Hibernating animals emerging from their caves was a sure sign of oncoming Spring. And, of course the pregnant Ewes.

So, have a happy and healthy Candlemas, no matter what pathway you may follow. Light a candle in anticipation of the new life that early spring harkens.

Love and Light...