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As the cold grip of winter begins to loosen and the days grow ever so slightly longer, I find myself drawn to the gentle light of Candlemas, Imbolc, and St. Brigid’s Day.
These midwinter festivals, rich with symbolism and meaning, offer a moment to pause, reflect, and welcome the promise of spring.
Celebrating these festivals in a Waldorf-inspired home feels like weaving threads of history, nature, and creativity into a single, beautiful tapestry.
The History of Candlemas, Imbolc, and St. Brigid’s Day
Each of these festivals marks a point of transition in the seasonal year. Imbolc, an ancient Celtic festival, celebrates the first stirrings of spring.
The name “Imbolc” is thought to mean “in the belly of the mother,” symbolizing the life stirring within the earth as the first seeds begin to awaken beneath the ground.
This festival, celebrated from February 1st through the 2nd, honors Brigid, the Celtic goddess of poetry, fertility, and healing, who later became Saint Brigid in the Catholic tradition.
Candlemas, observed on February 2, is a Christian feast day that honors the purification of Mary 40 days after c the birth of Jesus, and commemorates the presentation of the Christ child at the temple.
It’s also a time to bless candles, symbolizing the light of the world and the hope of spring’s return. St. Brigid’s Day and Candlemas are beautifully intertwined, sharing themes of light, renewal, and the nurturing feminine.
And then there’s Groundhog Day! Also celebrated on February 2nd, this more modern tradition is rooted in older weather lore, where animals were believed to predict the arrival of spring. In both Celtic and Christian customs, this time of year was a moment to seek signs from nature, observing whether spring’s arrival was near or if winter would linger.
In Germanic tradition, a badger was used to predict the arrival of spring. When this tradition was brought to the United States by German settlers, it evoled to using a groundhog instead – and thus Groundhod Day was born!
These traditions may also have been born of an even older weather-predicting verse that was once said about Candlemas Day, which goes like this:
”If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will have another fight
If Candlmas Day bring cloud and rain
Winter is gone and won’t come again”
We love to recite this verse before watching the weather on Candlemas, and then wait to see if the prediction is accurate each year!
Creating Waldorf-Inspired Candlemas, Imbolc, and St. Brigid’s Day Traditions
In our home, I love to honor these festivals with activities that bring us closer to nature and the rhythms of the year. Here are some of my favorite ways to celebrate:
Making Hand-Rolled Beeswax Candles
There’s something nourishing and meditative about creating candles to honor the light. We use natural beeswax sheets, rolling them carefully around cotton wicks. To make them extra special, we decorate them with dried orange slices, symbolizing the returning sun, and wrap them in hemp lace and natural twine. Lighting these candles at our family table becomes a cherished ritual, a reminder of the growing light and warmth in our lives.
To make it easy, I purchase these kits which contain almost everything you need to make the candles. I recommend that you warm the beeswax sheets in the oven for 1 minute or so (keep a close eye – they soften quickly!) on the lowest temperature to soften them for easy rolling. Read my full candle-rolling tutorial here.
We do make our own dried citrus rounds as well, and it is very easy to do!
Simply slice oranges into rounds, remove any seeds, and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Dry in your oven at 225 degrees for about 2-4 hours, flipping them over halfway through.
Check them often after the first hour to make sure their color hasn’t darkened too much.
Once they are mostly dry with their color still preserved, remove from the oven and let them continue to air dry on the baking sheet overnight.
Baking Sun-Symbolic Oat Bannock
Bannock, a simple traditional bread, feels like the perfect offering for this time of year. We love to bake ours with oats, honoring the humble grains that sustained our ancestors. Before baking, you can press a sun shape into the dough using the back of a wooden spoon if you wish, or shape the dough into a sun, celebrating the return of longer days. Sharing this warm, nourishing ancient bread as a family feels like a grounding act of love. Get my recipe here.
Creating a St. Brigid’s Cross
Using dried grasses, rushes, or even yarn, we weave a St. Brigid’s Cross together as a symbol of protection and renewal.
This activity is perfect for children, as the process of weaving is calming and rhythmic. The cross is traditionally hung on the door, connecting us to the ancient tradition of blessing the home with St. Brigid’s care.
Here is a helpful video tutorial on YouTube
Nature Walks and Signs of Spring
Even in the cold, we bundle up and head outdoors. We look for the earliest signs of spring: buds on trees, the sound of water running beneath ice, or a glimpse of sunlight piercing the winter clouds. These walks remind us that life is stirring, even when it feels far away.
Storytelling and Poetry
St. Brigid is also the patroness of poets, so we celebrate her day by sharing stories and poems about the seasons. Candlelight storytelling feels especially magical during these evenings, with a piece of hot-buttered bannock in hand, and shadows dancing on the walls in the warmth of the flickering candle-flames.
Here are some wonderful books for children about the legends of St. Brigid:
Saint Brigid and the Butter by Pamela Love
Brigid’s Cloak by Bryce Milligan
My Name Is Brigid by Isca Johnson
A Gentle Transition
These festivals invite us to honor the stillness of winter while welcoming the hope of spring. They remind us to slow down, connect with the earth, and bring light into our homes and hearts.
As you celebrate Candlemas, Imbolc, or St. Brigid’s Day, I hope these traditions inspire you to create your own meaningful moments.
In the gentle glow of candlelight and the taste of warm bannock, we can find a sense of renewal, hope, and connection to the natural world around us.
