This ancient festival (pronounced IM-bolc) marks the halfway point through the dark half of the year. The term means “in the belly,” referring to the first stirrings of spring in the womb of Mother Earth. It also refers to the time of first milk, when the pregnant ewes or sheep would begin lactating because it was time for the lambs to be born. The animal's milk was symbolic of the coming of spring. Other first visible signs of spring, such as the snow beginning to melt, and the lengthening of days were reasons to rejoice. Seeds planted in the fall were beginning to germinate and grow, so this was a time to give thanks and celebrate the new fertility, new life and new beginnings that lay ahead. It was a time of hope and expectation. It invokes gentleness and mothering needed in our first years on Earth. The Druid Imbolc celebration was a gentle beautiful festival where eight candles were lit and put to float in water at the center of a ceremonial circle. They honored the Goddess Brighid, the fertility mother and goddess of poets, healers and midwives. Consequently, poetry and song were often part of the rituals. Great bonfires were lit in her honor and also to impart extra energy to God so he continued to increase the light. Throughout Europe there were bonfires in the country or processions of lighted candles through city streets. In Rome, the Popes tried to eliminate this pagan procession of candles custom, but were unsuccessful, so they persuaded everyone to enter the churches so the candles could be blessed, and thus, it became the Christian holiday of Candlemas. Candlemas is a feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Today, both Imbolc and Candlemas are viewed as a time for dedications and initiations, rituals of new beginnings, and the freshness of a new season coming.