FireHawk's Thoughts

Ramblings of an Earth-minded nobody.

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Location: Pendleton, Indiana, United States

Former Airline pilot and Gulf War I Veteran. Originally from Maine/New England now living in rural Indiana.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Imbolc 2011 - Feb 3rd @11:20pm




Spring is coming!!! Though your modern calendar may not indicate it, Imbolc marks the beginning of Spring to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere and it occurs this year 2011 on Feb 3rd at 11:20pm EST/Indiana Time

http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/2010.html

The Cross Quarter of Imbolc is a time to acknowledge the "First Spark" and embedded energies that have been sleeping over the winter. The seeds that are underground acknowledge the returning energy and will begin to convert it to life deep within the seeds, underground and unseen by man. Even though it is still the dead of winter and feels like winter, the Sun's energy has been returning since the Winter Solstice on Dec 21st. On this day we are 1/2 way between the Winter Solstice (longest night of the year) and the Spring Equinox (equal night and day).


February 1st is St. Brigid’s Day noted on some calendars; and is celebrated symbolically with the weaving of reeds into crosses.



It is also the old pagan festival of Imbolc, which in Celtic times celebrated the pagan goddess named Brigid and marked the end of winter and birth of spring.

Groundhog Day** is also celebrated at the very beginning of February in the USA and Canada, when the groundhog emerges from his burrow and decides whether spring has begun or not.

February is also the month in which snowdrops and crocuses begin to appear, things become very spring-like with daffodils and hyacinths coming early as well. Most of us are sick of Winter by this time of year and we all look forward to seeing early flowers, slightly longer evenings, and slightly brighter days around Imbolc. This is the time to reflect upon this cycle and appreciate the unseen gifts that exist in your everyday life.


Firehawk


**Note Ground Hog Day on Feb 2nd is an old tradition created to replace the original holy day of Imbolc; and thus the true meaning of this time of the wheel of the year is missed by many. Help bring Imbolc back into the mainstream media by reposting! THANKS! :)

Monday, January 03, 2011

Plough Monday

Plough Monday


When and What is Plough Monday?


The first Monday after Twelfth Night is Plough Monday. It's time to get back to work and bring the holidays to a close! In ancient times,Plough Monday was a day when English ploughmen traditionally blackened their faces and wore white shirts and villagers in many agricultural areas dragged a decorated plough thru town; and they would knock on doors and ask for money, food and drink. They were accompanied by someone acting the Fool... named the "Lord of Misrule". The fool would often be dressed in skins and a tail, and carry a pig's bladder on the end of a stick. Agricultural laborers were accustomed to draw about a plough and solicit money with guisings, and dancing with swords, preparatory to beginning to plough after the Yule holidays. In a very few places they still drag the plough, but without the sword dance, or any mumming.


Farmers return to work on Plough Monday after the 12 days of Yuletide, which was brought to a close on the evening of merriment on "Twelfth Night".

For 2011, 12th night occured on January 2nd. Plough Monday is January 3rd, using the Winter Solstice (Dec 21st) as a reference point for counting the 12 days of Yuletide.

Peace and Happy New Year!,

Firehawk


FireHawk

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