Imbolc ⛤ Dísablót
Spring is in the Womb
The Promise of New Life
This holiday lies between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It is this time of the year when unborn lambs are a hint of spring in their mama’s round bellies. Deep in the womb of Mother Nature are roots and seeds filled with promises of spring bounties to come. We honor mothers who are growing the hope of bright futures.
Imbolc or Oimelc, also called Saint Brigid’s Day, is a holiday marking the promise of spring. It is marked with pregnant sheep and snowdrops peeking through the snow. Brigid, the Celtic goddess of hearth, poetry, and healing, represents the maiden aspect of the triple goddess – the symbol of youthful potential, new inspirations, and fertility in both flora and fauna. The word “Imbolc” means “in the belly of the Mother,” much like those roots and seeds mentioned above.
The word “Oimelc” means ewe’s milk, as the pregnant sheep were starting to produce milk in preparation of giving birth. It is the festival at the middle of the Celtic winter preceding the spring.
In Scandinavian traditions, it is celebrated with Dísablót to honor the female spirits or deities called dísir – the ancestral mothers in our lives. The word “Dísablót” is a combination of Dísir (plural of Dís, a term for a female spirit) and Blót (a festival or celebration involving sacrifice). In Sweden, a large community event (Disting) was held every Spring at the sacred site of Gamla Uppsala to honor female fertility and the continuation of life.
Be sure to download our “Enchantment of Imbolc: A Guide too Celebrating The First Stirrings of Spring,” a 46 page pdf packed full of correspondences, recipes, celebrations, magick, and rituals. Print it out and use it year after year, personalizing it to your own practices as you go.
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Generally there are two crafts made to honor Imbolc; St. Brigid’s Cross and Corn Dolls. I have included a couple of really great step-by-step videos so you can make either or both yourself.
St. Brigid’s Cross
Corn Dolls
RESOURCES
- Creatress, T. &. C. (2024, January 23). How to celebrate Imbolc. Thorn & Claw. https://www.thornandclaw.com/blogs/news/how-to-celebrate-imbolc
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025, January 15). Imbolc – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc
- Bhagat, D. (2019, January 31). The origins and practices of holidays: Imbolc, Setsubun, Lunar New Year. Boston Public Library. https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-origins-and-practices-of-holidays-imbolc-setsubun-lunar-new-year/
- Bonsing, S. R. J. a. J. (n.d.). CAER Australis – The Celtic Fire Feasts: Oimelc. ©, 1995-2011 Caer Australis John Bonsing and S Rhys Jones. https://caeraustralis.com.au/oimelc.htm
- Bernott, K. (2023, February 1). Shieldmaiden’s Sanctuary. What is Dísablót? https://www.shieldmaidenssanctum.com/blog/2023/2/1/what-is-disablot
- Dihane, M. (2024, February 23). Dísablót: Honoring the ancestors in Norse tradition. Odin’s Treasures. https://odinstreasures.com/blogs/norse-tales/disablot-honoring-the-ancestors-in-norse-tradition