Celebrating Candlemass

February 2 is one of the great cross-quarter days which make up the wheel of the year. It falls midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox and in many traditions is considered the beginning of spring.

Awakening the Ground

In Western Europe, this was the time for preparing the fields for the first planting. Even in Seattle, you can begin turning over and enriching the soil in anticipation of the first sowing in March. Pamela Berger has written a book, The Goodess Obscured: Transformation of the Grain Protectress from Goddess to Saint, about the rituals celebrated at this time of year, when the ground is first awakened and the seed placed in the belly of the earth. This is a significant moment in a community which depends on the earth for sustenance. The fields were purified and offerings were made to the goddess.

Inghean Bhuidhe

by Almut Wille

 
The Irish goddess Inghean Bhuidhe (“yellow-haired girl” or “bloom of youth”) is the second of three sisters representing the harvest cycle. She represents the coming of summer and is the nurturing mother goddess of the ripening of the crops. Just like her sisters, she became a Christian saint, a well was dedicated to her and she had her own feast day on May 6th, representing the first day of summer. Her name is also given as Iníon Buí. Her older sister is Lasair, her younger sister Latiaran.