At the beginning of the year, I declared 2026 to be my “year of magic.” I expect that is going to look different from month to month, but considering that my part of the Carolinas had its first big, pure-powder snowstorm in easily ten years yesterday and that today was all bluebird skies and wonder — well, “magic” seems like a good word.
It’s also a full moon tonight – coupled with those clear skies and all the unmelted snow, it’s bright and gorgeous outside. Many would also call that “magical.” (Interestingly, February’s full moon is known as the “Snow Moon” and is THAT ever so appropriate tonight!)
Like many Southerners, scratch at the bark of my family tree and you’ll hit a Celt without much effort. To my Celtic ancestors, Feb. 1 was a festival devoted to home, hearthfire, and very quiet doings known as “Imbolc.” (The Catholic church moved it a day so it would be 40 days after Christmas and repurposed it as “Candlemas” to celebrate Mary’s presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple. In keeping with the fire theme of Imbolc, holy candles are blessed during this service, as well.)
To the Celts, this was a day to venerate Brigid, either in her pagan goddess or Catholic saint incarnations. Brigid’s undeniably cool, presiding over realms as diverse as poetry, fire, smithcraft, and healing. (She’s got her own cross, as well.) The festival marks the halfway point between the start of winter and the Spring Equinox, so it’s still cold and wintry and is certainly a good time to tend your hearth. An old folk tradition is to hang a ribbon or piece of cloth (scarves are good) outside on St. Brigid’s Eve (the Irish love starting things the night before!) to be blessed by the touch of the saint as she makes her way across the land. The cloth is brought back inside the house the next morning and used to cure various ailments and provide protection for members of the household during the year.
Brigid also gets connected with dairy work (cows are REALLY important in Irish mythology) and the promise of the return of spring in an agrarian society means there are numerous mentions of bread, butter, cakes, and milk in Imbolc celebrations, along with candles, hearths, and fire. (To be fair, pretty much every Celtic festival involves fire of some kind!)
All in all, it makes for a wonderful night/day to light some candles, nibble some delicious cheese and crackers, and think about what you want the coming year to bring and what you need to do to prepare for that.
And – just maybe – tie a scarf to the branches of a tree.
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