Mid-Winter Celebration

Mid-Winter Celebration is one of fire, change, cycles, and transformation. It’s a time to light the candle, flame up the firepit, and burn the incense. Feb 1st is the halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Honored by many cultures, celebrations take different forms. But they are all Feasts of Light!

For example, this Feb. 1st is the Year of the Tiger, the Lunar New Year for Chinese provinces worldwide. This feast lasts 15 days, beginning with drums and dragons paraded through the streets, and culminating with the Spring Lantern Festival on the last day. Fireworks are everywhere. Everything is cloaked in red for good luck and to ward off bad spirits. It’s a family gathering time, to put the past behind us and start fresh. An honoring of the elders and relatives, Tiger brings the blessing of bravery, courage, and strength for all.

Next, in Ireland and Scotland, Feb. 1st is the ancient feast of Imbolc, where bonfires are lit across the land. This is the feast day of St. Brigid, at once an original goddess daughter of the first Dagda Kings/Gods to rule the land, and also a declared Saint of healing, magic, fertility, home and hearth. This also marks the beginning of Spring! It’s the start of ‘lambing’ season, the rebirth of the Sun, and the promise of warmer, lighter days ahead. The new agricultural season appears in the changing colors of the land. Pilgrimages to healing wells abound, where offerings are left hanging on trees, and prayers said, to ensure peace and abundance in the new year.

Finally, there’s Candlemas, where candles are blessed for the new year, and Christmas decorations and trees are taken down. There is also a connection here with the badger/groundhog seeing his shadow and predicting the length of winter. Anything golden is made for the feast. Crepes, egg dishes, and pancakes all have their place on the table. Round and yellow, they represent honoring the return of the Sun, with longer, warmer days. This holiday began in Old England, and starts with High Holy Mass and the blessed candles leading the procession into the church. It occurs 40 days after Christmas, as a feast of purification, new life, and light.

Mid-Winter Celebration is truly about consciously coming into your new phase of light.

I was thinking of all this when Magic Fox appeared. She came running down the hill, scattering the ravens eating at the Offering Stone. Young, vibrant, and full of energy, I saw her clearly. She ran in circles at the stone, stopped and looked right at me watching her from the window, and then just as quickly, ran down the slope and into the deep woods. Plus, her tail was striped in black and red.

When I looked this up, although many others have asked about a ringed tailed red fox, the ‘experts’ say that no such creature exists! Therefore, I named her Magic Fox. She may be young and her coloring will change, but for now, she has a magic tail. So I made the above painting, to remember her always. She begins the Magic for me at this feast of Light.

I will light my candles, burn some incense, and keep her image near at this changing transformative time of the year. Also, we’re making a golden quiche, to honor our shifting of seasons. I like to get a bouquet of flowers from the store, read mystery stories, sometimes grow seedlings in eggshells, and get back to playing with art. I bring back the kid that still looks forward to summer vacation.

Rituals keep us aware of the shifts happening in life, and in the land. What will you do, eat, and honor at this magical time of the year? How will you make this a consciously special changing season? Do you count down the days until baseball season, buy a new swimsuit/sandals, or plan your garden? I’d love to hear your thoughts below. Be thankful, be generous, be loving, and be aware!

See how I play with light in this oil paint sticks painting.