Imbolc (also Imbolg), or St Brigid's Day, is a Celtic festival marking the beginning of spring. Most commonly it is celebrated on 1 or 2 February in the northern hemisphere and 1 August in the southern hemisphere. These dates fall approximately halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. The festival was observed in Gaelic Ireland during the Middle Ages. Reference to Imbolc is made in Irish mythology, in the Tochmarc Emire of the Ulster Cycle. Imbolc was one of the four cross-quarter days referred to in Irish mythology, the others being Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. It has been suggested that it was originally a pagan festival associated with the goddess Brigid, who should not be confused with St Brigit of Kildare. In the 20th century, Imbolc was resurrected as a religious festival in Neopaganism, specifically in Wicca, Neo-druidry and Celtic reconstructionism. The holiday was, and for many still is, a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring. Celebrations often involved hearthfires, special foods, divination or watching for omens, candles or a bonfire if the weather permits. Imbolc is traditionally a time of weather prognostication, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens is perhaps a precursor to the North American Groundhog Day. A Scottish Gaelic proverb about the day is: Thig an nathair as an toll L����¯�¿�½������  donn Br����¯�¿�½������¬de, Ged robh tr����¯�¿�½������¬ troighean dhen t-sneachd Air leac an l����¯�¿�½������ ir. "The serpent will come from the hole On the brown Day of Bride, Though there should be three feet of snow On the flat surface of the ground." Fire and purification are an important aspect of this festival. Brigid (also known as Brighid, Br����¯�¿�½������­de, Brigit, Br����¯�¿�½������¬d) is the Gaelic goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft. As both goddess and saint she is also associated with holy wells, sacred flames, and healing. The lighting of candles and fires represents the return of warmth and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months. ~info from Wikipedia Zoom in for larger size. Credits: brushes by Patslash and ObsidianDawn