Oimelc, an Irish celebration in Savannah,

There are a few things in life you can always count on. Death, taxes, and an early Spring in Savannah. The dandelions have been popping their bright heads out of Mother Earth for weeks now, baby animals are starting to skitter around, and migration of birds have been in full force. We are blessed with clear air, bright skies, brisk breezes, and above all the return of proper seeding weather. There are few places like Savannah in the states and few places that have such a high amount of Irish heritage.

Irish Pagans all over the Low Country are either making candles, buying candles, or thinking of places to put candles. The time for bringing light back into the world is here and we do it with a flourish.

Held at the Vernal Equinox (a cross quarter point between the solstice and Spring Equinox), Oimelc is known by several names. In the US it's Groundhog's Day. Elsewhere Oimelc is known as Imbolg, Imbolc, Candalmas, Lupercalia, Saint Bridghid's Day, Bride's Day, Breede's Day, and Initiation Day (for Dianic Wiccans). Generally this was a day celebrated by women. In some circles men are excluded and initiations are held on this day. In general, this is a fire festival to bring light into the world and to awaken the Goddess Brighid from a long sleep.

In some traditions, corn dollies (made from corn husks) and little beds are made to represent the sleeping Goddess that awakes, and brings impending Spring with her. The Brighid's cross is often hung over door ways, in garlands, and worn as a charm. Wreathe's of greenery and white candles are worn around the head by young girls and delicious dishes made from dairy products are served. Seeds are blessed and prepared for Spring planting and the first baby lambs are born. The name Oimelc (pronounced ewe-milk) is named for the first signs that the Earth is now preparing to awaken and support life. Winters in the old days were long and grueling. If livestock could survive, especially sheep, they heralded the first official signs of Spring: either round baby lamb bellies, baby lambs, or lots of sheep milk.

I'm not sure how many sheep you will find here in Savannah, but a photo of a baby copperhead was spotted earlier this morning. There are few animals as close to Mother Earth as the serpent and Brighid is often associated with both rivers and streams (especially those having healing capabilities) and serpents. Yes Spring is definitely on the rise and Oimelc is right around the corner.

There are likely as many stories about this particular sabbat as there are stories of the gods themselves, however few deities are as loved and revered as Brighid who was later cananized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Brighid is the Goddess of healing, husbandry, hearthcrafte, fire, inspiration, rhetoricians, poets, musicians, blacksmithing, bards, herbal medicine, and the Creatrix of the Ogham. The Ogham is a form of divination using willow sticks inscribed with the Celtic names of trees in tree language. Each marking is done with precision and every "branch" of the markings is related to a different sacred tree, which is in turn related to a different aspect of life. These markings are burned into wood and are created to be used in two ways: either interlocking or tossed down randomly.

Brighid is the bright Maiden that brings in early spring flowers, but she also has a different face. The Blue Hag of Winter, also known as the Cailleach (in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland different variations of the same name, pronounced Cail-lee) roams through woodlands and mountains with her cattle and staff that brings frost wherever it lands. She guards the cave that separates the Summerlands from the physical world and eats those that try to get in to retrieve newly passed over loved ones. It's said her hair is matted with frost, blood, and tangles. Her skin is frosty blue, she has two great fangs constantly dripping from the blood of the dead, and she has one great eye in the middle of her forehead that sees everything past, present, and future. If you help her with her cattle, she will tell you your future. If you impede her progress, well refer to the fangs.

You're probably thinking I've jumped topic in a big way. Not really. You see while we're celebrating Groundhog's Day over here, Celtic and Gaelic Pagans are waiting to see if the Cailleach is going to have a bright sunny day to gather more fire wood or if she will sleep a little longer if the weather is bad. If she is able to gather more wood, there will be a longer winter. If she sleeps through it, there will be an early spring. The groundhog is a burrowing critter. It rarely comes out of its warm nest until winter is over and it can gather food and look for a mate. If the Cailleach sleeps a bit longer, she wakes up beautiful, bright, and also looking for her Consort.

As one famous Scottish proverb goes:

Thig an nathair as an toll
Là donn Brìde,
Ged robh trì troighean dhen t-sneachd
Air leac an làir.

"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."

And such is the way of the Goddess. Serpents are Brighid's totem animals and, like her will only emerge from the Earth and a long rest when the time of planting and fertility is near. A little water snake emerging from the ground a few days before Oimelc is a good sign.

On Oimelc, white and yellow candles are lit in her honor, bowls of water are blessed for cleaning and to use to clean the family altar and consecrate tools. Bowls of milk are offered to guardians of the home and family. Tools, especially those forged by fire, are blessed and charged up for the coming months. White flowers, fresh herbs, and candles galore are used to decorate the home and bless every corner for the protection and benefit of the family. Dandelions are especially sacred to her and an offering or tea made from them not only revitalizes the spirit, but is very healthy for the body as well.