The First Few Days of February
Falling halfway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, the start of
February brings the return of sunshine and life to the Northern Hemisphere.
There are various celebrations masking a wide range of non secular traditions.
Imbolc, a Gaelic
phrase which means “ewe’s milk” is a Celtic feast day that signifies the start
of spring.
It has been extensively noticed by Gaels for hundreds of years and it begins on
the primary night of February, ending on the second. Moreover, Feb 2 is Brigid’s feast. In historical beliefs, Brigid is a goddess. Later, there’s Saint Brigid, the founding father of the primary monastery in County Kildare
in Eire, born in 450 AD of a pagan father and a Christian
mom. Each the goddess and the saint
are related to the spring season, fertility, therapeutic,
poetry and blacksmithing. As goddess of the fireplace, the
goddess is equated to Greco-Roman Hestia-Vesta, and there’s an everlasting fireplace
that burns in her honor. Holy wells had been visited,
spring cleansing begins, and fireplace and lightweight are a part of the celebration.
Candlemas is a Christian holy day commemorating the
presentation of Jesus on the Temple, ending Christmas celebrations 40 days
after Christmas. Many trendy people take
down their vacation decorations on New 12 months’s Day, others wait till the 12th
night time, and nonetheless others look forward to Candlemas. Additionally it is a time to take candles
to the church to be blessed, principally a symbolic act in as of late of
electrical energy, however the candles of a whole 12 months had been blessed on Candlemas.
February 2 is Groundhog Day, and in
PA, that’s a fairly large deal.
After I was
little, I actually believed that the groundhog knew. Maryanne’s husband’s birthday is Feb 1,
in any other case generally known as Groundhog Day eve. If the groundhog sees his shadow (sunny
day) he can be frightened and return to sleep for six weeks. If it’s cloudy, he stays out of the burrow
and winter is asserted over.
Additionally it is when the Gaelic Cailleach gathers firewood for the remainder of the winter. If she is asleep, she doesn’t make the
climate vivid and clear in order that she will be able to collect a lot, so the hope is for
clouds.
In 2024, the Chinese language
Lunar New 12 months is on February 10, and in China it’s celebrated by means of
February seventeenth, and ushers within the 12 months of the Wooden Dragon.
The date is completely different every year, because it
coincides with the brand new moon. There’s
a lot feasting with uncommon or laborious to seek out delicacies, and households collect to
start the 12 months collectively. Right here on the
hill, we discovered some moon truffles and have them ready within the freezer!
I typically consider how comfortable individuals will need to have
been to see the sunshine returning! I can
artificially gentle my atmosphere, and am very glad of it.
There are various, many conventional celebrations connected to all of as of late, so
in the event you’d like to begin a brand new household custom, maybe you’d like to decide on one
and analysis the historical past and pageant/feasts.
A craft that goes again centuries will be executed along with the household, or as a
group of buddies. Here’s a good tutorial: http://colorful-crafts.com/brigids-cross-tutorial/
On your feast…
In
late winter/early spring, accessible meals is what has been saved over the winter.
To rejoice any of those feasts, strive to decide on dishes that work with
that. Livestock are “freshening” by
giving delivery, renewing their milk provide. Dried fruit and flavorful nuts and
seeds can be found. Root cellars saved apples, onions, garlics, potatoes,
winter squash, and pumpkins, some cruciferous greens. A number of greens might be
present in sheltered areas.
Seed
Cake
It is a conventional spicy pound cake that’s served with out icing. Though caraway seeds are conventional,
fennel, sesame, pumpkin, poppy, coriander, sunflower, or others will be added or
substituted.
1 C butter
softened (2 sticks)
1 C granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 C flour
1 T caraway seeds
1/4 t floor nutmeg
1/4 t floor cinnamon
1/4 C brandy
4 t 10X sugar
Preheat the oven
to 300°.
Line a 9 x 12 pan with parchment, OR grease effectively.
In a big mixing bowl cream collectively the butter and sugar till gentle and
fluffy.
Add eggs, separately, scraping down sides of bowl with every egg.
In a second bowl,
mix dry components.
Add half of the dry components to the primary bowl, stirring effectively.
Add the brandy and mix.
Add the remaining dry components, mixing simply till combined effectively.
Bake for 40 to 45
minutes or till a toothpick comes out clear.
When cool, sift the 10X sugar excessive.
Imbolc Incense
Make a unfastened
incense to rejoice the brand new spring and rising season that’s across the
nook. Whereas mixing the components,
deal with what you’d wish to see.
Considerable gardens, comfortable household, prosperity – something in any respect, simply as
you would possibly on the new 12 months.
2
components Cedar
1 half Copal
1 half Basil
1 half Dragons Blood
½ half Lemon Peel
½ half Chamomile
You’ll be able to substitute something that represents fireplace or renewal to you. As an illustration:
Calendula
frankincense
bay
violets
purple santal
myrrh…
You nearly can’t go mistaken.
To burn, place a pinch of the combination on a smoldering charcoal block. Add extra when it stops smoking if desired.
If
any of those holidays are new to you, I urge you to be taught extra about them. We will all use extra celebrations in our
lives, and there are many causes to have them!
Notice: After the publication
went out, we heard from our good friend Justin Ferko.
Right here is one other celebration from the
Slavic world going down on the identical time: Gromnice, Our Girl of the Thunder
Candle/Our Girl of the Wolves:
https://lamusdworski.wordpress.com/2016/03/13/holy-mother-with-wolves/