
Ancient Celtic Festivals – Imbolc
Medium: Textile: hand dyed, appliquéd, printed, stitched
Dimensions: 27″ x 19″ x 0″
Imbolc, marking the beginning of spring, is held on or around February 1. Believed to have originated as the Pagan feast of Brigit, Goddess of Fertility, it has been Christianized as the feast of St. Brigit. On this day, people would visit Holy Wells and leave scraps of cloth tied to trees for Brigit to bless. They would weave rushes and grasses into four-armed equilateral cross to be hung over doors, windows and stables to welcome Brigit and for protection against fire, lightning, illness and evil spirits. In modern times, we recognize this as Groundhog Day, a turning point between winter and spring.
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