Pierre-André Lévesque
2010-01-03 05:12:25 UTC
I am looking for some suggestions as to what would be a good film to
watch on Imbolc which will occur this February 2, 2010. Please help.
The holiday of Imbolc is also known by the names of Imbolg, Oimelc,
the Feast of Brigid, and in post-Christian times, Candlemas. It is
celebrated either on one of the first two days of February or on the
day the sun reaches fifteen degrees in Aquarius. Imbolc is a holiday
sacred to the goddess Brigid in her maiden aspect. Brigid is a highly
influential goddess holding sway over subjects as diverse as
blacksmithing, poetry, the hearth, and childbirth. It is explained
that Brigid is a name shared by three sisters who act almost as a
triple goddess. Important to the discussion of Imbolc, Brigid is
often
associated with cattle, milking, fertility, and the return of spring.
The word "imbolc" literally translates as "in the belly." This is a
reference to the season of spring, which shall soon be born. Although
February is considered a cold winter month, the seeds within the soil
are at this time beginning to awaken and grow. This parallels the
growth of the animals still in the womb who will be born later in the
year. Oimelc is an alternative title for Imbolc and means, "in milk."
This is a reference to the lactation of ewes and cows, which begins in
February. Geese being to lay eggs in the month of February and
although it does little for the temperature, it is easy to feel the
returning strength of the sun. It are these indications of the end of
winter that make Imbolc a festival of celebrating spring.
Imbolc begins on February second and hence is very close to the
beginning of the Roman festival of the Nones on February fifth, which
marked the beginning of spring on the Roman calendar. Since the
Romans
consider winter to be the last season of the year and spring to be the
first, the Nones marked the New Year and where considered a time to
clean old scores and to consider new endeavors.
The Nones and the month of February where seen as a time of cleansing;
the month February comes from the Latin word for purification. This
goes well with the theme that Candlemas latter embodied as a
celebration of the purification of Mary (woman where considered to be
impure for six weeks after giving birth). It was this month that homes
where given a good "spring cleaning" and where then sprinkled with
salt and wheat.
The first two weeks of February where known to the Romans as
Lupercalia and where dedicated to Lupercus, god of agriculture, and
Venus, goddess of passion and fertility. It marked the ending of the
odd time between December, the end of the year before, and March, the
beginning of the next year. It featured parties, parades, and
bonfires.
Lupercalia and the Nones both ended midway through February, on the
fourteenth. Most of you will note that this is the date of Valentine's
Day. Many people believe it likely that Valentine's Day was
originally
called Gallantine's Day. The word gallantine would have been
pronounced as beginning with a "v" in old France. Just looking at the
word gallantine suggests its English translation of "Gallant." This
English word originally had a meaning that has now become a secondary
definition of "chivalrously attentive to women; also dashingly
amorous. (This explanation is much simpler than attempting to explain
how the stout Saint Valentine of the Catholic Church managed to become
involved in a holiday that celebrates romance and desire).
The modern Imbolc takes on most of these rules, but is also considered
to be a festival of fire. It is an obvious welcome to the returning
sun and heat as well as a celebration dedicated to Brigid, who is the
goddess of fire. On the night of Imbolc, bonfires used to light the
hills and the daytime was filled with the praise of chandlers. It was
this theme that the Catholic Church latched onto for their celebration
of Candlemas.
There are many customs associated with Imbolc. My favorite is what I
think of as "The Lighting." This is accomplished by placing a lit
candle in every window and allowing them to burn either until morning
or until they burn out. Of course, if you live in a house full of
brave felines, you may want to douse any candle you can no longer
watch or use electric candles, or even electric lamps, in their
place.
Obviously, Imbolc is a terrific day for making candles. A Crown of
Lights is sometimes constructed to be worn by a group's High Priestess
at this time by fastening candles to a cornet. In old Europe many
people would spend Imbolc making candles from the animal fat collected
during the winter. These candles would usually last all year and where
considered to be lucky. This is one of the Imbolc traditions adopted
by the Catholic Church.
Still on the theme of burning things, now is a good time to gather any
of the greens from your Yuletide season that you still have laying
about. These things should be added to the bonfire for luck and to
help in the banishment of winter. Think about the cold and then think
about welcoming back the warmth and the sun while these burn.
There is an old Scottish tradition of feeding the last ear of last
harvest's corn to the livestock on this day.
In modern days, most people do not own livestock so the tradition has
turned to burning the corn dollies that many witches construct for the
autumn festivals.
In honour of Brigid and the sun, you may want to consider weaving a
"Brigid's Cross." As pictured above, a cross of Brigid is woven from
straw into a symbol of the sun. Such crosses are said to provide
protection when hung about the house for the next year.
In the same spirit in which the sun is being reborn, Imbolc is
considered a proper time for initiations, purification's, moving on
from the past, and reflecting on yourself.
As a token to fertility, it is customary to make an offering of milk
to the earth. This is usually accomplished by pouring milk onto the
ground or by sprinkling it onto the threshold.
Colours associated with Imbolc include lavender, white, and pink. A
sampling of Imbolc herbs would be heliotrope, carnation, poppy, basil,
and violet. Amethyst and jet are the stones of the holiday.
I am looking for something with a pagan theme and I would be curious
to know if there are any favourite films that regular observers of
Imbolc may watch?. I usually watch a film called "The Wicker Man" on
Beltane, although it could be argued that this movie does not present
neo-paganism in a very flattering light. I also watch "A Midsummer
Night's Dream" on Midsummer, "Watership Down" on Ostara, the
"Nutcracker" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" on Yule, "Dancing
at Lughnasa" and "Into the West" on Lughnasadh, and now both "Legend"
and "Ladyhawk" on Mabon (Autumn Equinox).
So would anyone here be able to recommend a good film to watch on
Imbolc which would be in keeping with the theme of Imbolc?.
Pierre-André
watch on Imbolc which will occur this February 2, 2010. Please help.
The holiday of Imbolc is also known by the names of Imbolg, Oimelc,
the Feast of Brigid, and in post-Christian times, Candlemas. It is
celebrated either on one of the first two days of February or on the
day the sun reaches fifteen degrees in Aquarius. Imbolc is a holiday
sacred to the goddess Brigid in her maiden aspect. Brigid is a highly
influential goddess holding sway over subjects as diverse as
blacksmithing, poetry, the hearth, and childbirth. It is explained
that Brigid is a name shared by three sisters who act almost as a
triple goddess. Important to the discussion of Imbolc, Brigid is
often
associated with cattle, milking, fertility, and the return of spring.
The word "imbolc" literally translates as "in the belly." This is a
reference to the season of spring, which shall soon be born. Although
February is considered a cold winter month, the seeds within the soil
are at this time beginning to awaken and grow. This parallels the
growth of the animals still in the womb who will be born later in the
year. Oimelc is an alternative title for Imbolc and means, "in milk."
This is a reference to the lactation of ewes and cows, which begins in
February. Geese being to lay eggs in the month of February and
although it does little for the temperature, it is easy to feel the
returning strength of the sun. It are these indications of the end of
winter that make Imbolc a festival of celebrating spring.
Imbolc begins on February second and hence is very close to the
beginning of the Roman festival of the Nones on February fifth, which
marked the beginning of spring on the Roman calendar. Since the
Romans
consider winter to be the last season of the year and spring to be the
first, the Nones marked the New Year and where considered a time to
clean old scores and to consider new endeavors.
The Nones and the month of February where seen as a time of cleansing;
the month February comes from the Latin word for purification. This
goes well with the theme that Candlemas latter embodied as a
celebration of the purification of Mary (woman where considered to be
impure for six weeks after giving birth). It was this month that homes
where given a good "spring cleaning" and where then sprinkled with
salt and wheat.
The first two weeks of February where known to the Romans as
Lupercalia and where dedicated to Lupercus, god of agriculture, and
Venus, goddess of passion and fertility. It marked the ending of the
odd time between December, the end of the year before, and March, the
beginning of the next year. It featured parties, parades, and
bonfires.
Lupercalia and the Nones both ended midway through February, on the
fourteenth. Most of you will note that this is the date of Valentine's
Day. Many people believe it likely that Valentine's Day was
originally
called Gallantine's Day. The word gallantine would have been
pronounced as beginning with a "v" in old France. Just looking at the
word gallantine suggests its English translation of "Gallant." This
English word originally had a meaning that has now become a secondary
definition of "chivalrously attentive to women; also dashingly
amorous. (This explanation is much simpler than attempting to explain
how the stout Saint Valentine of the Catholic Church managed to become
involved in a holiday that celebrates romance and desire).
The modern Imbolc takes on most of these rules, but is also considered
to be a festival of fire. It is an obvious welcome to the returning
sun and heat as well as a celebration dedicated to Brigid, who is the
goddess of fire. On the night of Imbolc, bonfires used to light the
hills and the daytime was filled with the praise of chandlers. It was
this theme that the Catholic Church latched onto for their celebration
of Candlemas.
There are many customs associated with Imbolc. My favorite is what I
think of as "The Lighting." This is accomplished by placing a lit
candle in every window and allowing them to burn either until morning
or until they burn out. Of course, if you live in a house full of
brave felines, you may want to douse any candle you can no longer
watch or use electric candles, or even electric lamps, in their
place.
Obviously, Imbolc is a terrific day for making candles. A Crown of
Lights is sometimes constructed to be worn by a group's High Priestess
at this time by fastening candles to a cornet. In old Europe many
people would spend Imbolc making candles from the animal fat collected
during the winter. These candles would usually last all year and where
considered to be lucky. This is one of the Imbolc traditions adopted
by the Catholic Church.
Still on the theme of burning things, now is a good time to gather any
of the greens from your Yuletide season that you still have laying
about. These things should be added to the bonfire for luck and to
help in the banishment of winter. Think about the cold and then think
about welcoming back the warmth and the sun while these burn.
There is an old Scottish tradition of feeding the last ear of last
harvest's corn to the livestock on this day.
In modern days, most people do not own livestock so the tradition has
turned to burning the corn dollies that many witches construct for the
autumn festivals.
In honour of Brigid and the sun, you may want to consider weaving a
"Brigid's Cross." As pictured above, a cross of Brigid is woven from
straw into a symbol of the sun. Such crosses are said to provide
protection when hung about the house for the next year.
In the same spirit in which the sun is being reborn, Imbolc is
considered a proper time for initiations, purification's, moving on
from the past, and reflecting on yourself.
As a token to fertility, it is customary to make an offering of milk
to the earth. This is usually accomplished by pouring milk onto the
ground or by sprinkling it onto the threshold.
Colours associated with Imbolc include lavender, white, and pink. A
sampling of Imbolc herbs would be heliotrope, carnation, poppy, basil,
and violet. Amethyst and jet are the stones of the holiday.
I am looking for something with a pagan theme and I would be curious
to know if there are any favourite films that regular observers of
Imbolc may watch?. I usually watch a film called "The Wicker Man" on
Beltane, although it could be argued that this movie does not present
neo-paganism in a very flattering light. I also watch "A Midsummer
Night's Dream" on Midsummer, "Watership Down" on Ostara, the
"Nutcracker" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" on Yule, "Dancing
at Lughnasa" and "Into the West" on Lughnasadh, and now both "Legend"
and "Ladyhawk" on Mabon (Autumn Equinox).
So would anyone here be able to recommend a good film to watch on
Imbolc which would be in keeping with the theme of Imbolc?.
Pierre-André