Corn Dollies for Imbolc or Lughnasadh

Imbolc is February 1/2 of 2021. Normally, you’d want to do a full Spring Cleaning to clear out the negative energies from the Winter; in my case, that’s not likely to happen because I just have a lot going on, right now.

Imbolc is a Gaelic celebration whose name translates as “From the belly.” It is also a celebration of the Goddess as Maiden (from Maiden, Mother, Crone aspects). She crosses the threshold with the Archer to bestow life upon the earth once more. Brigid is a name that shares the same derivative as “Bride,” which is why the aspect of the Goddess is that of Maiden.

Later, the Goddess Brigid (who is the Celtic Goddess of Fire) was Christianized as “St. Bridget,” and her feast is held somewhere around February 1 (I think; I’m not a Saint-celebrator). Fire warms the Earth just as the Sun begins to warm the Earth through longer and longer days. After the celebration of Imbolc comes the celebration of Ostara–the Vernal Equinox–on March 20, 2021.

Imbolc is also a fertility celebration–from the firstlings of the calves and sheep to the fertility of the fields preparing for Spring planting. Corn dollies were a way for people to celebrate the last corn of the year and ensure fertile fields for their harvests at Lughnasadh.

February has many holidays–from Imbolc and Groundhog’s Day to Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday/Fastnacht Day and Mardis Gras! There’s Valentine’s Day, Sweetest Day, and several other Hallmark Holidays. We’ll explore some of them as we go through the month of February and begin to prepare for Ostara. In the meantime, please enjoy the corn dollies!