Imbolc

A bit late, but I was sick.

Remember the last chapter of Witch Hollow and the Wrong Spell, when our happy witches are celebrating Imbolc with their friends and family?

In the beginning of February, Hollow was celebrating Imbolc. Hundreds of candles were burning all over the town. The residents on the West Bank had put together the unburned Christmas logs, making great figures of giants which were to be burned that night. A thin layer of snow continued to cover the distant fields and meadows where the townspeople were passing with flaming torches, holding them over the snow and trampling its last remains. On this festive day, people treated each other with pancakes, goat cheese, and freshly baked bread. Elders drank mulled wine, the young had milk and herbal teas. The houses were decorated with brooms, yellow flowers, and colorful ribbons. Candles were burning on the windows; crosses, woven from straw, were hanging over the doors, and jugs of milk and small baskets of nuts and dried fruits, entwined with silk ribbons, lay at the thresholds.

So, in Celtic traditions, the 2nd of February is called "Imbolc" (or "Brigit" after the Gaelic Goddess) and represents the beginning of spring. 

There are many beautiful songs dedicated to this day. I will share the two songs that I love very much. Feel free to add your favorite ones.

Happy Imbolc to everyone!

Artist: Damh the Bard
Lyrics:
There's a tree by the well in the wood,
That's covered in garlands,
Clooties and ribbons that drift,
In the cool morning air.
That's where I met an old woman,
Who came from a far land.
Holding a flame o'er the well,
And chanting a prayer.

(Chorus)
Goddess of fire, Goddess of healing,
Goddess of Spring, welcome again.

The told me she'd been a prisoner,
Trapped in a mountain,
Taken by the Queen of Winter,
At Summer's end,
But in her prison, she heard the spell,
The people were chanting,
Three days of Summer,
And snowdrops are flowering again.

She spoke of the Cell of the Oak,
Where a fire is still burning,
Nineteen priestesses tend the Eternal Flame,
Oh but of you, my Lady,
We are still learning,
Brighid, Brigantia,
The Goddess of many names.

Then I saw her reflection in the mirrored well,
And I looked deep in her face,
The old woman gone, a maiden now knelt in her place,
And from my pocket I pulled a ribbon,
And in honour of her maidenhood,
I tied it there to the tree by the well in the wood

Artist: Lisa Thiel
Lyrics:

Blessed Bridget comest thou in
Bless this house and all of our kin
Bless this house, and all of our kin
Protect this house and all within

Blessed Bridget come into thy bed
With a gem at thy heart and a crown on thy head
Awaken the fire within our souls
Awaken the fire that makes us whole

Blessed Bridget, queen of the fire
Help us to manifest our desire
May we bring forth all thats good and fine
May we give birth to our dreams in time

Blessed Bridget comest thou in
Bless this house and all of our kin
From the source of Infinite Light
Kindle the flame of our spirits tonight

Blessed Bridget come into thy bed
With a gem at thy heart and a crown on thy head
Awaken the fire within our souls
Awaken the fire that makes us whole

Blessed Bridget, queen of the fire
Help us to manifest our desire
May we bring forth all thats good and fine
May we give birth to our dreams in time

Blessed Bridget comest thou in
Bless this house and all of our kin
From the source of Infinite Light
Kindle the flame of our spirits tonight

Photos taken from the Net.