Candlemass is the Christianized name for a holiday which falls between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinoz. The Pagan calander has four such festivals falling between the solstices and the equinoxes. The older Pagan names for the one which falls on February 1st/2nd were Imbolc and Oimelag.
Imbolc literally means ‘in the belly’ (of the Mother). For in the womb of Mother Earth, hidden from our mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings - the seed that was planted in her womb – for she is pregnant with the Summer. The alternative name of Oimelag means ‘milk of ewes’ – for it is also lambing season. So the Pagans saw this as the beginning of Spring – the fire of Spring is lit in secret whilst the Winter still rules the earth above.
The holiday is also called Brigit’s Day, in honour of the great Irish Goddess Brigit. At her shrine, the ancient Irish capital of Kildare, a group of 19 priestesses (no men allowed!) kept a perpetual flame burning in her honour. She was considered a goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry and healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery). This tripartite symbolism was occasionally expressed by saying that Brigit had two sisters, also named Brigit. Incedentally, another form of the name Brigit is Bride, and thus She bestows her special patronage on any woman about to be married or handfasted, the woman being called ‘bride’ in her honour.
