Imbolc/St. Brigid's Day/Candlemas/Groundhog Day - All at Once!

Ten days ago ago we hit Feb. 1st on the calendar.   The first few days of February are dates worth remembering, for we are now halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, some would call it the first day of spring.  This is one of the ancient 'cross-quarter' days in Celtic culture, dividing each of the four seasons at their mid-points and celebrated as the first day of spring, at least in Ireland.

The four cross-quarter days all had agricultural significance, representing the days when cattle were driven out to summer pastures, when harvest began, and when harvest was finished for the winter.  This awareness of the seasons and their implications for local communities was important in all ancient civilizations.

The name Imbolc dates from that ancient Celtic tradition and refers to the beginning of lambing season (picture those rolling green hills of Ireland dotted with sheep).  The coming of spring has always been a very important time, following the months of darkness and sometimes starvation.  Plans for planting were made, and for some it was about the return of longer days and more light.

Here on the shores of Georgian bay, buried in 2 feet of snow this year, it's hard to relate!  But we are definitely getting more light as the days get longer.

At some point Imbolc got tied to the ancient goddess Brigid, and as Ireland was Christianized in the 5th century by St. Patrick, the ancient goddess morphed into a saint, St. Brigid.  In turn St. Brigid's cross became a widely used symbol in Ireland.

Imbolc coincides with Candlemas in the Christian church, the Festival of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.  This is also a celebration of the return of the light and the final end of the Christmas season.

An ancient tradition in Europe was that if the weather was cloudy on Candlemas, there would be an early spring, while if the weather was sunny there would be six more weeks of winter.  In the European context this superstition became linked to hibernating mammals like the bear or badger.  It's easy to see how this was transferred to the groundhog in North America.

Today there are numerous groundhogs (and a lobster) that are said to have mythical weather-forecasting abilities.  The most famous is Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, followed by Wiarton Willie and Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia.  Not wanting to be left out of the game we can add Fred la Marmotte in Quebec, Balzac Billy in Alberta, and don't forget Lucy the Lobster!

I doubt that many people in the audiences waiting for these groundhogs to appear and make their prognostications realize the ancient religious origins of the celebration.  The 4th century tradition of Candlemas has led us directly to the modern festival of light as spring returns.  If you can't treat the groundhog seriously, at least watch the date and celebrate the first day of spring as the light returns.