The ancient peoples of the Earth celebrated the seasons by paying close attention to the skies above them, especially at night, when clear, and observation was undertaken.
The Celts were particularly aligned in all aspects of their lives, with the precession of the Equinoxes and the timing of the seasons.
Time was, and remains, cyclical.
It is only patriarchal religions that have enforced a sense of, and adherence to, Linear Time.
The Gregorian Calendar is an example of this.
Solstices, Equinoxes and Cross Quarter days, such as Imbolc, were of great importance to ancient people for regulating their time.
The knowledge of when to plant, when to harvest, when to stay and when to move was imperative to the well-being of the Tribe.
Imbolc is celebrated, this year, on the 3rd day of February, at precisely 3.57pm here in Ireland.
The time differs accordingly across the northern hemisphere.
The Celts named the cross quarters Imbolc, Bealtaine, Lughnasad and Samhain.
Happy Imbolc!
[…] Imbolc and the Ascent of Spring […]
Collette, I have an abundance of Deodar Cedar seeds. I can send you some if you like.
Eric
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I don’t think I have ever grown these tree, so they sound fascinating…yes please Eric, I would appreciate that, very much.
I shall post some seeds in return.
The seed bank is being sorted as I write!
Simply heaps saved from last year being sorted…properly!
Blessings from all at Bealtaine Cottage
Colx
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My address:
Colette O’Neill
Bealtaine Cottage,
Ballyfermoyle,
Keadue,
Boyle,
County Roscommon,
Ireland
[…] and, perhaps the most famous in the US anyway: Groundhog’s Day. This year’s Imbolc actually falls on February 3, but most people started celebrating on the first. Imbolc is a cross-quarter day between Winter […]
[…] Imbolc and the Ascent of Spring (permaculturecottage.wordpress.com) […]
[…] Imbolc and the Ascent of Spring (permaculturecottage.wordpress.com) […]
Warm and magical Imbolc Blessings to all at Bealtaine xxx
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May the coming Spring uplift and energize you
Col and all at Bealtaine Cottage X
Visiting via Etsy. We would love to come visit you. We will in Sligo April 15-19.
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You are most welcome.
Bealtaine Cottage is about 27 kms east of Sligo.
Come for tea and scones and a tour of the permaculture gardens!
We can talk nearer the date.
Blessings,
Colx
Happy Imbolc to you too Colette….Slainte! (regrettably I couldn’t get the small / to appear over the ‘a’ !)
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That appears to be a problem with me too…never mind!
Happy Imbolc to you too, Christine.
Officially it’s 3.57pm on Sunday, but the planets won’t mind this earlier, Gregorian celebration!
Colx