|
|
|
|
See Any Groundhogs Here? Imbolc for Dummies
See Any Groundhogs Here?
Imbolc for Dummies
By Stephanie Donald
After an arduous search into the origins of Imbolc or the Festival of Brighid, I must regretfully inform you that groundhogs just don't seem to share the Wiccan/Pagan tradition with us.
As near as I can tell, the groundhog legend seems to have come from North America in the 18th century when Benjamin Franklin dedicated some notable passages about the thoughts of whether or not winter goes on according to the adrenaline level of a groundhog seeing it’s own shadow in his ever-popular Poor Richard’s Almanac. It’s an interesting notion but one I'm sure was meant to be more jest than fact. Although in Pennsylvania they seemed to have turned it into a tourist industry with Pauxatawnee Phil, the “Prognosticator of Prognosticators!” I actually think it’s more of an excuse for the large German-American contingent living in or near Pauxatawnee, Pennsylvania to kick back, play polkas and get smashed for one day (not that they need that much excuse because the German people are always up for a good party!).
The Festival of Brighid is sort of a multi-representational celebration of dedication to the Craft, a celebration of the return of the stirrings of life to Gaia (for those in colder climates where seasonal growth is an issue) and in the old days of farming it was a time to sort the farm animals for breeding. In general, it’s more of a celebration of life than any other tradition we have.
It was so much a celebration of life that early Anglican Priests and Clergy would often join in the celebrations much to the consternation of the Church of Rome. It became so much an argument in fact that several Popes found examples of a “Brigid” or “Bridget” (darn Popes always had to change the names, the dates or something about any Wiccan/Pagan tradition, didn't they?) in different cultures so they could make a sort of legend of a Saintly woman who was (supposedly) generous, kind and above all mischievous. After all, we can't let those darned Pagans not be concerted so let’s make sure we completely destroy the traditional Wiccan/Pagan pantheons of faith.
In one Irish example I found, Brighid was the daughter of an Irish king who sought to sell her off to another nearby king (oh, the good old days, eh?) at the ripe old age of 14. She became bored of the talk of coin of the realm and real estate and stole her father’s sword and gave it to a leper outside the castle of the king they were visiting. I guess she thought arming a leper would be fairly harmless as their arm holding the sword might drop off at any moment anyway. Her father was not amused but the other king and talked her father out of switching her to within an inch of her life. He refused to marry her or buy her but he saved her anyway.
These stories seem to be one part wishful thinking and two parts Irish blarney but they're amusing nonetheless. My step-grandfather was a second generation Irish-American named Joe Gill. If ever an Irishman kissed the blarney stone it was certainly Grandpa Joe. His stories kept me amused for months when I was a child. He often told stories about St. Brigid and her supposed antics with a wild blue glint in his eye.
During this festival it’s Wiccan/Pagan tradition to dedicate yourself for the first time or if you've felt you haven't followed the path closely enough for the past year, to re-dedicate yourself to it for the coming year. In other words; it’s a time for new initiates or for those who have lost their path.
We also refer to this holiday as “Candlemas” in deference to the ceremony surrounding that initiation or dedication ceremony. Any true ritual of Wicca/Paganism concerns the gift of fire and candles are always the centerpiece of any proper altar. This is a tradition that the Roman Catholic Church borrowed from us. Whenever you enter an active church you can see candles burning whenever the church is open to the public. Novena candles are directly from us in the way of dedication to the spirit but like so many other Catholic traditions, they took free choice out the equation and made it so someone else lights a candle for you as if you are to be pitied. In our traditions we light candles for ourselves and dedicate them to the proper spirit without having it shoved down our throats.
Even if you aren't a member of a Coven and are a solitary practitioner, it’s usually a good idea to rededicate yourself to the Craft every Candlemas and to remember that we need to stay true to our beliefs even when the rest of the world tells us we're wrong.
Bright Blessings and a wonderful Festival of Brighid!
From Down The Lane, Volume 10, Issue 12.
| Article Statistics: |
| Viewed:502 |
| Current Reviews: 0 |
|
|
 |
|
