Imbolc is the Celtic festival associated with the start of spring and Saint Brigid.
Observed on 1 February, Imbolc is one of the four traditional Gaelic seasonal festivals, alongside Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. It falls roughly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, marking the seasonal shift from winter toward spring.
The festival was probably connected originally with lambing, fresh sheep’s milk and agricultural preparations. Its association with Brigid may preserve elements of an older connection with the goddess Brigid, whose domains included poetry, healing, fertility, animals and smithcraft. Christian tradition later linked the date with Saint Brigid, a major Irish saint associated with Kildare.
Common mix-ups are easy: Samhain marks the beginning of winter, Beltane the beginning of summer and Lughnasadh the beginning of autumn. Modern observances may include making Brigid’s crosses, visiting holy wells and leaving cloth outdoors for Brigid to bless.