happy imbolc!

Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac reminded me that today is Imbolc, the Celtic festival marking the 1/2 way point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. According to Wikipedia, during Imbolc the common folk celebrate the “onset of lactation of ewes, soon to give birth to the spring lambs”.

“St. Brigid is said to walk the earth on Imbolc eve. Before going to bed, the head of the household will smother the fire and rake the ashes smooth. In the morning, they look for some kind of mark on the ashes, a sign that Brigid has passed that way in the night or morning.”

It’s possible that we had our own sanctified visitor last night, although I suppose it is also conceivable that the marks have a more terrestrial (ie, canine or feline) origin:-)