HomeWheel of the YearImbolc
Wheel of the Year · Sabbat

Imbolc

Imbolc — First Stirrings of Spring. Celebrated around Feb 1 – 2.

Date
Feb 1 – 2
Theme
First stirrings of spring
Meaning
First Stirrings of Spring
In one line

Imbolc celebrates the first stirrings of spring — the quickening of seeds beneath the snow. It’s a festival of purification, new beginnings, and inspiration.

What is Imbolc?

Imbolc celebrates the first stirrings of spring — the quickening of seeds beneath the snow. It’s a festival of purification, new beginnings, and inspiration.

History & origins

Imbolc honours the Celtic goddess Brigid, marking the first signs of spring and the lactation of ewes. Sacred to fire, poetry, and healing, it survives in the Christian feast of Candlemas and St Brigid's Day.

How to celebrate Imbolc

Light candles, cleanse your space, plant the first seeds of intention, and welcome the returning light.

Imbolc correspondences

Colours: white, silver, pale yellow. Foods: dairy, seeds, bread, honey. Herbs: rosemary, basil, angelica. Symbols: Brigid's cross, candles, snowdrops.

Imbolc customs

Traditional ways Imbolc has been celebrated through the ages.

🕯

Candle lighting

Lights in every room to call back the strengthening sun.

Brigid's cross

Woven rush crosses for protection and blessing.

🧹

Spring cleaning

Clearing out the old to make space for new growth.

Imbolc correspondences at a glance

The colours, symbols, herbs, foods, and crystals traditionally tied to Imbolc.

CategoryAssociations
ColorsWhite, silver, pale green
SymbolsBrigid's cross, candles, snowdrops, lambs
HerbsAngelica, basil, rosemary, bay
FoodDairy, seeds, bread, honey
CrystalsAmethyst, garnet, turquoise

The eight sabbats of the year

The Wheel of the Year turns through eight festivals — the solstices and equinoxes, and the four cross-quarter days between them.

Oct 31 – Nov 1
Samhain
Ancestors & endings
Dec 20 – 23 (Winter Solstice)
Yule
Rebirth of the Sun
Feb 1 – 2
Imbolc
First stirrings of spring
Mar 19 – 22 (Spring Equinox)
Ostara
Balance & new growth
Apr 30 – May 1
Beltane
Fire of life & passion
Jun 19 – 23 (Summer Solstice)
Litha
Peak of the Sun
Aug 1 – 2
Lughnasadh
First harvest
Sep 21 – 24 (Autumn Equinox)
Mabon
Harvest & balance

Working with Imbolc

Embrace

  • New beginnings
  • Cleansing
  • Inspiration
  • Gentle first steps

Release

  • Stagnation
  • Winter heaviness
  • Self-doubt
Celebrate at home · 15 minutes

A simple Imbolc ritual

  1. Light candles.
  2. Cleanse your space.
  3. Plant the first seeds of intention.
  4. Welcome the returning light.
FAQ

Imbolc — questions

When is Imbolc?+
Imbolc is celebrated around Feb 1 – 2 in the Northern Hemisphere.
What does Imbolc celebrate?+
Imbolc celebrates first stirrings of spring. Imbolc celebrates the first stirrings of spring — the quickening of seeds beneath the snow. It’s a festival of purification, new beginnings, and inspiration.
What is the Wheel of the Year?+
The Wheel of the Year is the cycle of eight pagan festivals (sabbats) marking the solstices, equinoxes, and the points between them.
How do I celebrate Imbolc at home?+
Light candles, cleanse your space, plant the first seeds of intention, and welcome the returning light. You can keep it as simple as lighting a candle and setting an intention aligned with the season.
In the Southern Hemisphere, when is Imbolc?+
Because the seasons are reversed, Southern Hemisphere practitioners celebrate Imbolc roughly six months from the Northern date, aligning it with their own season.
What is the theme of Imbolc?+
The heart of Imbolc is first stirrings of spring. To work with it, embrace new beginnings and cleansing, and release stagnation.

What is this season whispering to you?

Get a reading that’s about your situation, not a textbook. Pull a card and our AI interprets it in the context of your actual question — free.

Pull a Card
FreePersonalizedNo sign-up
Continue

Other sabbats

View all →