Celebrating Brigid, Imbolc, and…Checks Notes Groundhog’s Day?

Welcoming the In-Between

Today we find ourselves nestled between the depths of winter and the promise of spring, two ancient holidays offer glimpses of hope and renewal: Imbolc and…Groundhog’s Day. Though they originate from very different traditions, both mark the midway point between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox, embodying the spirit of transition and transformation.

Imbolc: A Celtic Festival of Light

Imbolc, celebrated on February 1st or 2nd, is a sacred festival observed historically in Celtic cultures. Its roots trace back to ancient Pagan traditions, honoring the goddess Brigid and heralding the return of light and fertility to the land. As the sun begins to strengthen and days lengthen, Imbolc symbolizes the awakening of the earth from its winter slumber. We are at the threshold of a cosmological grey area, between the winter and the spring when this date arrives. We are between that which is no more and that which is yet to be. Thirsting for the change to arrive.

To celebrate Imbolc, people traditionally light candles and bonfires to banish darkness and invite the light. They celebrate the blessings of Brigid, the goddess of hearth, home, and poetry. It’s a time for purification and renewal, as seeds of intention planted in the darkness of winter begin to stir with the promise of new growth in the spring. This is also a time to gather and restock firewood, depending upon the weather conditions on this date! Many feast for Brigid, as her divine feminine energy deified the elements of fire, water, earth, and air.

Who is Brigid and Why Should I Care?

If you don’t know about Brigid (aka Brigit, Bride, St. Brigid, Bree, Mary of the Gael, Ava Maria), let me ‘learn you something’! She is kind of a big deal to modern feminists and social justice activists of the region. Below are some resources to snack on! The Pagan Goddess Brigid was essentially replaced at first with Mother Mary, by the introduction of Abrahamic religion in the region. But there is also a re-introduction of her hundreds of years later, in an effort to do damage control. Her identity was recreated by the church in a marketing campaign as St. Brigid. Brigid was not always on the good side of the church, for her unique healing abilities. She is a bit of a feminist (and most likely queer) icon, if you dig in. Which is most likely why she was the first to be covered up by the church again in the 1600s. Another round of Abrahamic religious ‘renovations’ swept the region with Protestants following an overthrow of a Catholic King. No matter how you view it, these efforts to censor were male led and limited how women could affect change and empower society.

A guide to Brigid from the Famous White Spring (located just across from the Chalice Well). Wow do I have some great stories to share from my visit there! Ask me sometime 🙂
Here’s a Christianized version of the Story of St. Brigid. In summary, the church resurrected the persona of the ancient goddess by committing a slave’s child to the role by claiming her daughter was destined to be St. Brigid. Might I add that this slave was impregnated by royalty. What a coverup. The church portrayed her as a saint and ‘accidentally’ ordained her as a Bishop (which was later revoked by the church). At the time the church was looking to overcome poor morale caused by St. Patrick’s mass ‘conversion’ and eradication of Pagans (which he coded as serpents or snakes). But St. Brigid became pretty social justice oriented during her life, making a huge impact, and we find later her memory is subject to typical re-branding throughout history.

Groundhog’s Day: A New American Tradition

Groundhog’s Day, observed on February 2nd, is a Newer North American tradition with roots in European-American animism folklore. It was invented by immigrants as Badger Day in Pennsylvania, during the late 1800s, as a crossover nod to Germanic Candlemas traditions. According to legend, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, winter will persist for six more weeks. If it doesn’t, an early spring is predicted. This holiday came about from folks in early Germanic cultures who observed animals during the midway point, between winter and spring, to see if they were coming out of hibernation. It was also an important time to collect more wood, if these animals were not showing signs of readiness for Spring.

While Groundhog’s Day may seem lighthearted compared to the solemnity of Imbolc, both holidays share a common theme: the anticipation of seasonal change. Whether we await the emergence of the groundhog, badger, or bear, or the return of the sun’s warmth, these rituals serve as reminders of our connection to the cycles of nature. The funniest part about this is that I used to live in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin which is now the Groundhog Capital of the World.

Setsubun: A Japanese Tradition of Cleansing Evil and Welcoming Happiness

A 13th century holiday is still celebrated in some Japanese households, welcoming of the fresh air that spring brings. During Setsubun homes are cleaned, and incense are burned. All in a declaration of ridding evil energy and welcoming good fortune. Some folks will count the number of beans equal to their age, roast them, then throw them out their door yelling “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Evil out, happiness in”). Another way to revive the spirits by defining and declaring the future, during such a grey state in the year.

The Chinese Lunar New Year: A Midway Point!

This holiday is strictly affiliated with moon phases. It happens to demarcate the midway point and celebrate it on the first New Moon around that time. The Lunar New Year marks the beginning of spring in China, which is the beginning of the astrological year according to their lunisolar traditions. This is a fantastic event where eight days of celebration commence in the survival of winter. Many countries and cultures around the world celebrate this grand and ancient tradition during this time.

Finding Meaning in the In-Between

As we honor these holidays tied into the wheel of the year, we’re invited to embrace the liminal space between winter and spring – a threshold where darkness and light converge. It’s a time for anticipation, where we honor our push to the end of winter, and prepare to welcome the possibilities of the future. It’s also easier for me to remember than the groundhog shadow lore.
In this season of transition, may we kindle the flame of hope in our hearts and sow the seeds of renewal in our lives. Let us honor the wisdom of the earth and the resilience of the human spirit as we journey toward the promise of spring. After all, this is what the ancient Druidic and Pagan Goddess Brigid stood for.

Finding Harmony During This Moment

When it comes down to it, cultures have re-painted history and religious beliefs for many different reasons throughout history. Why should you care? Well I think the reasoning behind why they are changed matters. Many of these druid and pagan beliefs established during ancient times, were for people to remember their deep relationship to the elements and how to survive as a community. What we see during the rise of Abrahamic or Colonialist religious beliefs, is the need to create a shared and streamlined system of control, and unfortunately to collect funds from those crowds to fund and solidify their expansion further. There’s a difference here. So whether you see Brigid as a Mother Earth deity, a queer feminist social activist, a pious and saintly nun, or maybe as the thawing springtime waters themselves, the flame that keeps you warm in this liminal space of winter….it’s the concept, the cultural teachings and value that is truly important. Personification through storytelling and ritual are Mnemonic devices of rich cultural tapestry.

What if science could learn from the spiritual?

We are realizing how far we’ve been conditioned to stray. It’s time to begin appreciating our connection as beings to earth and the elements again. When folks share those ancient stories and cultural beliefs, teaching us about their local experiences with the seasons and their relationship with survival; it’s a glimpse into a collective shared experience of the past. Ancient holidays of the past, based on these cosmologies are fascinating; a glimpse of knowledge a local area cherished and how it evolved. Food for thought.

I may not be religious anymore, I may be more of a scientific mind. But I am certainly spiritual. I believe in the spirit of compassion, reflected in the sharing of knowledge, and the vitality of a humanized community. From experience I’ve gathered, and the perspective I’ve lived, it’s not about following the BEST spiritual path. We’ll never fully unpack or learn of all of the deifications and beliefs around the world, they socially change. It’s not a matter of comparing or contrasting to find the one true path. Each culture has their own localized stories based upon experience, which turned into forms of religious beliefs and deities. So does each human, we need each others’ uniqueness. Which is why spirituality is so uniquely personal, and I’m proud to walk in this liminal path. What do you believe?

#Imbolc #GroundhogsDay #SeasonalTransition #Renewal #LiminalSpace #Goddess #Brigid