Today’s Dance: Imbolc, The Promise of Spring

[odanu]

Originally published at Am I the Only One Dancing?. Please leave any comments there.

Today is a holiday in many traditions. The United States celebrates it as Groundhog’s Day, a completely secular holiday with deeply pagan roots. Many Christians celebrate today as Candlemas or St. Brigid‘s day, or Lady Day, which is a festival in honor of Mary. Celtic pagans celebrate today as Imbolc, or ‘ewe’s milk’ day, which celebrates that lambing season has begun and spring is on its way.

Today is the midpoint between winter and spring. Spring isn’t here yet, but the promise of spring is. It is a good day for starting early seeds, plants that can be put out at first thaw, such as cabbages and lettuces and onions and broccoli. It is a good day for lighting a whole lot of candles and being grateful that the sun no longer sets (what feels like) a half second after it rises. It is a good day for sitting in front of a warm fire and planning out your year.

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