Photo by Magenta
In the Northern Hemisphere, the beginning of February marks the arrival of spring and the transition from darkness to light. For those south of the Equator, it is a time of harvest and celebration. Both can be a time to celebrate with music, dancing, and storytelling. Here’s a guide to some of the ways to honour this special occasion. From feasts and festivals to storytelling and tarot, you’ll be able to find the perfect way to mark this fire festival, and make it a memorable and meaningful day.
Mark the changing of the seasons
For those of us still in the grip of winter, Wiccans call this time of year “Imbolc”. It is also a celtic festival honouring St Brigid. Which is one of Ireland’s oldest holidays. For many, this festival marks the end of the winter and marks the first signs of spring. It is generally a time for purification and a celebration of the first signs of life after the winter. It is a good time of year for observing the first green shoots from the earth.
For those of us enjoying the summer, this time of year is Lammas or Lughnasadh. This festival marks the first celebration of the harvest, the growth that has happened to this point and a reminder to enjoy the remaining warmth and light before the next equinox.
As the Wheel of the Year turns, we can mark this point in time by celebrating and feasting. The beginning of February is a good time of year for enjoying the fruits of nature, and celebrating the light.
Celebrate with food and feasting
Feasting is a great way to celebrate this time of year, perhaps something connected to the season. You could try foods that are part of your traditions, perhaps researching your family history and making a meal that you haven’t had for a while.
You can of course reach out and connect with friends and family. Especially if it has been a while since you got together. Which brings us onto sharing stories with friends and family.
With feasting should come music and dancing! It is common to hear music and see dancing at traditional celebrations. For example, for those celebrating St Brigid’s Day at this time of year, it is believed that the music of harps, flutes, and pipes are the sounds of the goddess Brigid visiting her people.
Storytelling and poetry
Storytelling is a great way to bring people together and enjoy each other’s company. Wiccans call this time of year a fire festival, which is a perfect place to gather as a group to tell each other stories of old, funny stories or even to just read stories written by other people. You don’t even have to have people over. It’s still ok to meet via social media. The objective is just to bring people together.
The Sun in Aquarius
Even if you’re not into traditional celebrations, it’s worth noticing that the Sun is busy making its journey through Aquarius at this time of year. Aquarius symbolises renewal and shaking things up a bit. As the Wheel of the Year turns, this might be an opportune time to check in on your goals and intentions for the year.
Are you still on track or do you need to shake things up a bit?
It’s perfectly fine to chuck those resolutions in the bin and start again with the Sun in Aquarius. Try a New Year Tarot Reading. Spend some time reflecting and refocusing on what you set for yourself.
You can also create a vision board for your intentions to keep an eye on your progress and any actions you need to take through the coming months.
Wherever you are on the planet, this time of year is a special occasion. It either marks the beginning of spring and the coming of warmth, or it salutes the Sun and gives thanks for the food. It is a festival that can be enjoyed in many different ways. So go ahead, have another serving of dinner. It’s all in honour of the season!
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