FEBRUARY
What traditions, myths, and celebrations do YOU have in your home and region for February?
Many cultures, ancient and contemporary, celebrate – particularly in the northern hemisphere --the beginning of hope for the spring after a long, dark winter. For example, the Chinese New Year Spring Festival on their lunisolar calendar is the new moon between Jan 21 and Feb 20, landing around this time of the year.
Nordic cultures: Women's feast, to mark the end of the Wild Hunt. Women would wear their summer clothes, to invoke warmer days. It is the gentle goddesses of Spring and Fertility who appear now, after the terror and darkness of the Yule's Wild Hunt. It is the definite end of Yule (December and January), and dangerous darkness. Divination with runes and animal behavior would be done at this time as well, also in ancient Celtic traditions.
Feb 1 Imbolc is often celebrated in conjunction with the worship of Brigid (Celtic goddess turned Christian Saint). Nature was often viewed as having 2 seasons: winter and summer. Winter (Nov 1) is the beginning of the year, followed by the summer. Just as festivals began at night, going through often to the following night. Because of this mindset, in this instance, Imbolc might begin in the evening of Feb 1 and end the evening of Feb 2. It's also possible that it would correlate with the Full Moon (Feb 5, 2023) and there is even some evidence that it would have been celebrated on Feb 13, prior to the rearranging of the Julian calendars.
Perhaps strangely, pancakes and crepes are a traditional food for this day in some places.
Feb 2 Candlemas (Christian) “Chasing out the Yule” including feasts, and weather divinations, (such as Groundhog Day). Candlemas brought people to their churches with their bread and their candles, to have them blessed for the year.
A Norwegian cake “Hel-horse” baked on Dec 25 is eaten during this time. Purification and calling upon female deities such as Freya, to end the Wild Hunt.
Feb 4 King Frost Day. Although there are parades in honor of King Frost in October, Feb 4 is King Frost day for many. King Frost is the reason that the spruce, pine, and juniper do not lose their leaves, as he made that decision when those three trees vowed to protect the little bird that could not fly south because of a broken wing. The trees who would not help (oak, birch, and willow) lost their leaves instead. King Frost also is involved in the tale of the evil step-mother who sends her sweet step-daughter out to the fields to be frozen to death. Instead, King Frost is won over by the step-daughter's politeness and sends her back home warm and wealthy. The step-mother then sends her own daughter out, to gain the wealth, but that girl is not nice nor polite to the Frost King, so he freezes her. It's worth looking up the story, if only for the commentary coming from the little doggy under the table, being bribed by the step-mother with the funeral pancake feast...
The rare occasions that the English river Thames would freeze over (like... hundreds of years ago) a giant carnival called the Frost Fair would be held on the ice, and on several occasions, this fair was in line with Candlemas and the surrounding days at the beginning of February. Some of the bits of information from those fairs are amazing to read about.
Frost Fair Wikipedia Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7994298
Feb 5 happens to be my birthday, which was a full moon in 2023, and consequently, when I decided to do my things for Imbolc and the season, instead of the 1st and 2nd. Actually. Many people I know have birthdays this month...
Feb 13 is my son's birthday.
Feb 14 is Valentine's Day
Feb 15 is Lupercalia, from which Valentine's is likely derived from. (Think Roman pagan celebration going back as far as 6th century BC... with Romulus and Remus being cast out as infants, raised by a she-wolf. The festivals involved the sacrificing of goats and a dog, and a bunch of things relating to fertility.)
Nordic traditions: First three nights after the new moon of February (Feb 20, 2023), milk is offered and prosperity asked for.
Feb 22 “Peter Hot Stone” (St. Peter's Night) “First Day of Spring” (not the actual equinox, which doesn't happen for another month). The legend is that the hot stones were thrown into the spring, well, or lake, etc. to melt the ice – perhaps originally by Thor, before becoming the figure of St. Peter. And someone such as Odin (Woden) would be called upon to “eat the frost”, with a pole driven into the ground.
Things to do during this season:
If religious aspects or divination with runes and whatnot are not really your thing, there are other ways to celebrate and represent the very beginnings of Spring.
You might make pancakes... We did. Or perhaps eat root vegetables and dairy in honor of the season. Maybe even something spicy to represent the returning longer and warmer days?
You might go for walks or sit out in nature – try to find signs of springtime life. Even in my area buried under the snow, I could find signs of things green and growing!
Watch the sunrise and sunset.
If it is cold enough where you live or if you have a freezer, you can make and freeze ice lanterns to set outside after dark with candles in them.
You might leave offerings outside for whatever you do choose to believe in, or you might just leave those offerings for the creatures that may be having a hard time finding food this time of year. (Always research the best and safest things to set out in nature in your area.) Would you want to build a birdhouse? It might be much appreciated.
This is a time of rejuvenation, rebirth, reconnecting, renewal, reuniting – out with the old, in with the new. Maybe this means cleaning some part of your home, donating things you don't need. Open the windows if you can, even briefly, to let the fresh air in. It can also mean things like cleaning out the inbox in your email. Or perhaps something more emotional, such as cutting ties with things that do not serve you, hold you back, or harm you in some way – including some people you may know. In many traditions, a broom or besom would be used to sweep the home, from the back all the way out the front door. This was done literally, to clean the home, or more figuratively, to rid a home of the stale or perhaps negative energies from a long dark winter. My husband gifted me this beautiful broom on my birthday, not knowing its significance this time of year – only that I would like it!
Maybe you enjoy symbols of the season, such as amethyst, turquoise, garnet, brass... Or, milk, honey, basil, cinnamon, sheep, rabbits, and eggs are all connected to the land and season in many areas. Even making a Brigid doll or Brigid cross, as a simple symbol or as something deeply meaningful to you -- Brigid was often viewed as wearing white, with a green cloak. There are many places on the internet with instructions for making a Brigid Cross. A representation of her would sometimes be hung above the front door of a home for protection, and a small bed might have even been made for the doll, as a way of welcoming her into the home. Any green fabric could be used to represent her cloak, or left outside on the day of Imbolc to be more connected to the season and used in the future to represent the things that Brigid is understood to stand for, not just spring and fertility, but things such as skills, arts, poetry. She was also known as a healer and for blacksmithing as well. She was often associated with sacred wells and waterways. The ancient Druidic prophecy for her birth was, “she would be born neither inside or out – neither in the night or the day.” It is said she was born on a threshold, at dawn.
Start some seeds indoors to be ready to plant outside when the weather is warm enough!
Have an outdoor fire (safely, if you are allowed to do so in your area).
Visit sacred wells and waters or listen to the sounds of a fountain to feel that connection.
Now is a great time for blessings, protections, healing, and cleansing. Now is a great time to think of new goals and ideas – write them down, make a vision board.
Because this time is a welcome increase in longer days, candles play a large role. White candles are popular at this time.
It was said that candles made on Imbolc would burn the brightest, and the day was considered a good one for anointing any special candles that would be used for any intentions. And, candles could be placed in the windows, as melting wax was considered to bring good luck.
It is also said that burning the stubs of the candles that were left from the Yule season had magical properties – even more so if the candle stub was saved for nine years!
Melting old wax together into new candles often resulted in a blackened candle that was considered a symbol of protection from storms when placed in the windows of the home. No other candles could be burning at that same time.
For many populations over time, the year was divided into two seasons – winter and summer. A lunisolar calendar was used. For some cultures, winter and the new year began on November 1. The Celts had this similar view, using each lunar cycle. The lunar cycles had a sacred tree roughly associated with it. Each tree carries a message – OGAM, the Celtic oracle of the trees. January 24 – February 20 was the Saille, or Willow tree. February 21 – March 20 was the Nuin, or the Ash tree.
The Saille, or Willow, sent a message of femininity, cooperation, fertility, and intuition at this time. Paying attention to moon cycles and water. Emotions, creativity, and community should be important at this time. Creative principles and the elements of fire – as well as the magic of the seed deep within the earth – play their part. Enriching community and harmony with the natural world can be a focus. Using dreams for plans and ideas, as well as meditation... really allowing oneself to feel emotions. Do something creative at this time!
The Ash tree was considered to be important with both the macrocosm and the microcosm. Its meaning was “as above, so below” and Yggdrasil, the World Tree, was often considered to be an Ash tree. It could be associated with water, sprites, mermaids. The thoughts were that this time should be about the higher self. It should be “less about doing, and more about being”. Changes within will reflect in the outer world. Choose healing and spiritual experience. Avoid over indulgence and escapism during this time. Now is a good time to use the Runes or other divination, should you so choose.
Other sources:
“The Nordic Animist Year” by Rune Hjarne Rasmussen
“Celtic Tree Oracle guidebook” by Sharlyn Hidalgo
Wow you share the same birthday as my wife. Happy birthday to you (of course it is way to late. : ))
and Happy Valentine's day also to you and your family, lets's share the love around the world.
Nothing much here on February, especially in Indonesia, where there will always be a big debate whether we can celebrate Valentine's or not, just because of different religions.
But in my hometown, there will be a big ceremony for the Goddess of Prosperity / Goddes of Rice (Dewi Sri) which will fall on the 22nd of February of this year. but most of the time it falls on a different date because the Balinese use a different Calendar system to count the ceremony day.
!LUV
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Oh wow!! Thank you for telling me about Dewi Sri! I will look her up!! Is she only sacred to your town?
(I hope you weren't too late to tell your wife happy birthday on the 5th! 😉)
Fabulous recap of the season, packed with information about traditions! The photo of your ice lantern is simply breathtaking — superb job with the composition and photography of that shot! I really like the Brigid doll, too! It is wonderful how the wording of your post spans various religions and belief systems, making it possible to have something for everyone here. Kudos!
Thank you!! The "old ways" are fascinating to me, and I only wish I knew more customs from all the places! Lol
My lantern was fun to make - I'll be planning more for next year, I think!
The Brigid doll has ended up in my Etsy shop at the moment. That's always a hard call - keep or sell? Lol
I can’t agree more with this. February is a hard month to me, but I try to reborn with the life rhythm. 🤗
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It's a hard thing to do sometimes... Just being. People spend their whole lives trying to learn to be in the moment.
Happy belated birthday.
Customs are fascinating.
I loved hearing about Feb 4th and King Frost!
Thanks!
Yes, there are so many King Frost stories. That is one of my favorites.
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Wow! So much incredible information, most of which I did not know. I love your ice lantern. That broom is so beautiful... Not something I have ever said about a broom before! ♥️
It IS a beautiful broom... Lol
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Wow, will have to read again, maybe translate to german for more deeper understanding. Me too I love the old traditions coming out of the circle of year and nature. Brigid is my name parton by the way and sometimes I think there is a lot of Brigid in me :-)
For my place, there are not many people still celebrating Imbolc and Candlemess.
But we have our "Fasching" carnival, wich is in February. Of course for most people its only party, fun, alcohol.... but the roots behind these traditions are very old. Hm, maybe I can write something, will think about.
We have the "Faschingsdienstag" carnival tuesday, I think its in 2 weeks from now.
Thank you for this great post and happy happy belated birthday to you !LUV
Please do write about it if you have time!
At the moment I would agree with wearing my summer clothes too because I am missing warmer days more than ever))
Same! It's starting to snow again today. 😆