Celebrating Imbolc with children

Imbolc is an old Gaelic festival that marks the the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It signifies the return of light, the first stirrings of nature, and the start of the lambing season.

At Imbolc, which is normally on 1st February here in the Northern Hemisphere, the goddess Brigid was honoured through rituals of purification and fire. It was traditionally the time for cleaning and spiritual cleansing, in order to welcome fresh energy and new life (a precurser to the modern day "spring cleaning").

I love celebrating Imbolc with my family as it's a lovely way to be more connected to the seasons, as well as a way to acknowledge that we're moving from the dark days of hibernation towards the promise of more days spent outdoors.

Celebrating Imbolc with children

We have been celebrating Imbolc for a few years now, and there are a few activities that have slowly become traditions and that we look forward to. Here are some of the ways we have celebrated that you may want to try with your family...

1 - Roll beeswax candles

Candles represent the return of the sun, purification, and the 'flame' of inspiration. Rolling your own beeswax candles is such a fun activity for all ages, and it smells amazing! You can find beeswax candle kits online, and my top tip is to use your thumb to gently warm the candle edges and smooth them together once rolled.

2 - Pour soy candles

If you have older children and you want to create some poured candles, you can buy bags of soy wax that can be heated carefully in a small saucepan on the hob. Recycled jars are the perfect recepticle, and you can add a little essential oil if you want to make the candles scented.

3 - Bake bread

The process of baking represents a nurturing act; by transforming simple ingredients into food you mirror the transformation of the season. Bread is surprisingly simple to make, but if you don't fancy starting from scratch you can buy some ready-to-bake mixes.

4 - Make butter in a jar

Why not make your own butter for the bread you have baked? We like to make butter in a jar, because it's really simple and the whole family can get involved - just pour some double cream into a large jar and shake until it solidifies - taking turns until it's ready. Then scoop out and mix in some salt (if desired). You can keep the remaining buttermilk for making pancakes.

5 - Go on a snowdrop walk

Known as the first flower of spring, snowdrops symbolise purity, hope, and the awakening of nature from winter. We like to go on a family walk in the days leading up to Imbolc to see how many we can spot. Did you know there are 20 wild species of snowdrops in the UK and over 2,500 cultivated varieties? Take a look inside the flowers to spot the differences!

6 - Let Brigid bless some cloth

This is a lovely tradition that is better when dry and frosty, rather than bucketing it down as it sometimes does in February. It goes that if you leave out cloth, St. Brigid passes through the land overnight, blessing it with healing and protective powers for the coming year. We have a green gingham tablecloth that we use for outdoor eating in the summer, and the night before Imbolc I hang it on the line in case Brigid passes by!

7 - Watch the sunrise or sunset

Choose a clear day near to Imbolc to watch the sunrise or the sunset together. This is a great time to do it, as later in the year it will be too early (for big ones!) or too late (for little ones). If you want to do this indoors, grab a chair and sit by the window. You can talk about all the colours that you can observe together.

8 - Make an altar candle

Making and lighting your own altar candle is such a lovely way to celebrate Imbolc. To make one, start by pouring a base of salt at the bottom of a large jar, then add any of the following:

• White, green, or yellow/gold candle

• Bay leaves

• Rosemary

• Heather

• Amethyst

• Clear/rose quartz

• Moonstone

9 - Prepare a nourishing feast

Because ewes begin lactating at this time, dairy products are traditionally eaten during the festival of Imbolc. Until the advent of modern farming, our ancestors would go without milk from November until February, so the return of dairy really was something to be celebrated. Our favourite Imbolc recipe is a simple soup made from potato and onion, and served with grated cheese and bacon on top.

10 - Get cosy with a story

There's nothing better than snuggling up under a blanket with a good book. Why not find some Imbolc-themed stories to share? It could be a book about snakes, swans or sheep (animals that are associated with the festival), or one about spring. Here are some suggestions:

• The Lightbringers by Karin Celestine

• The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi

• Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak

• Verdi by Janell Cannon

• Frederick by Leo Lionni

• The Wild Swans by Jackie Morris

• When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes

Celebrating Imbolc with children is a great way to build connections to the changing seasons. By honouring this time of year, you’re teaching them to notice the subtle magic in the world, like the way the sun lingers a few minutes longer each evening. Whether you spent the day baking or simply read a book together, these small traditions build lasting memories. I hope I've given you some ideas on how you can create those memories together.

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