Candlemas Eve

Monday, February 1, 2021

Today is Imbolc and also St. Brigid's Day. This morning my friend Zara wrote on Facebook: "It's the first day of Spring in the Celtic calendar: St. Brigid's Day, Imbolc! Brigid was a bishop of the  church and abbess of one of the largest monasteries   (men and women) in Europe."

Tomorrow is Candlemas. Some Christians follow the tradition of having Christmas decorations taken down by on on Epiphany, January 6th. Others take theirs down by or on Candlemas, February 2nd. Still, others believe that if you take most of yours down by Epiphany but still have some out, they should remain up until Candlemas and then taken down to avoid any bad luck. I left a few Christmas items out after Epiphany just for the fun of it and plan to have them down tomorrow. Not so much to avoid bad luck as that it's simply time. 

Ceremony Upon Candlemas Eve

Down with the Rosemary, and so

Down with the Baies and, mistletoe;

Down with the Holly, Ivie, all,

Wherewith ye drest the Christmas Hall:

That so the superstitious find

No one least Branch there left behind:

For look, how many leaves there be

Neglected there, maids, trust to me,

So many Goblins you shall see.

                       -Robert Herrick