In the Celtic calendar the feast of IMBOLC marked the end of the winter and the beginning of spring, falling on the first day of February. For this reason Imbolc was a feast characterised by the celebration of weddings and the establishment of new families, in harmony with the atmosphere of the renewal of life. The celebration of Imbolc was held under the aegis of Brigit, the Goddess both of love and life, the symbol of the Great Mother. The setting up of a new family represented the birth of a new hearth, the physical and metaphysical centre of the ancient house, thus of a new fire. Fire had the role not only of lighting up a new period, but also of environmental purification, eliminating the debris of various kinds accumulated during the dark winter months. The Roman feast of Suovetaurilia, the medieval Feast of Saint Anthony, the extremely significant ‘Candelora’ feast (“dell’inverno semo fora”- “we are out of winter”), are evidence of this period of lustration, leaving the dark of the winter and gaining access to the new period of light and activities. The new fire of Imbolc represents well the fire of love for nature, married love and family love. The continuing presence of snow, in the midst of which the fire was lit, reminded men of the creation of life from ice and fire, as described in the Ancient Cosmologies. The new fire lit in the temple of Vesta in Rome on 1st March is nothing more than the feast of the fire delayed and set in a different historical context. In our times we find Carnival in this period, still a heartfelt occasion participated in with enthusiasm, perhaps not by chance. It is indeed linked to the renewal of the seasons, the return to the original time and chaos (loss of identity, inverted roles, sexual confusion, frenetic dancing and madness) which precede the cosmos and the birth of spring. It is clear that in a society such as ours, in crisis in terms of values, the need for rebirth and the desire to demolish and burn the old world is strongly felt, whether consciously or unconsciously. It is a shame that what prevails is a sense of pure escapism and intemperance, a straightforward outlet for repressed drives, unnatural mirth and a momentary digression of banal liberty in a year dominated by absurd and conventional forms of “work”. If it was experienced in a conscious manner Carnival would be a good opportunity to eliminate the debris of the past, both individual and social, and to start up on the pathway of life with new enthusiasm and renewed energy. Traditions: Thus the feast was once an opportunity to celebrate weddings and for the purification of fields, houses and public buildings, something which could easily be repeated using salt and water and the fire of a lighted candle, taken to the relevant places. Another custom was the Crown of Light, a circle of 13 candles representing the number of annual lunar cycles, a good omen for fortune and prosperity for the whole of the next lunar year, in relation however to material wellbeing. For those who have access to a sweat lodge, this would seem to us the best occasion to make use of it. It is the feast of the couple and it is not by chance that it is close to St Valentine’s day. While positive in itself, St Valentine’s day today has been trivialised by consumer uses and goods, but a more authentic and essential significance could easily be restored to it. The harmonisation of the couple (yin-yang), today so superficial and occasional, would be worthy of greater attention thanks to its ultimate role in balancing, but remains difficult when the prerequisites are lacking, namely the concept of “poles”, today so difficult to find in a world of widespread sexual confusion and alienating ideas on the question. Ignes fatui (from decomposition) and muddy and polluted waters (death) do not give life to anything. Possible social extension of the celebration – with a marriage – implies the involvement of the clan and the extension of the reasons relating to the feast to them. Taken from the book “Il ciclo dell’anno” Ed. del Tridente The book is available in the section dedicated to books. A short summary taken from the book is also available at a cost of 5.00 Euro + postage costs. Members may request it at the following address
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