Ember Grant
We have no hard evidence about how Pagans actually celebrated the festival of Imbolc, but we do know that it came to be associated with St. Brigid, a figure believed by many to be a remnant of worship of an ancient Celtic goddess—also known by other names, including Brigit and Bride.
By the early eighteenth century, and probably somewhat earlier, there are some specific accounts of rituals. In particular, in his book Stations of the Sun, historian Ronald Hutton mentions one from the Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland, as described by Alexander Carmichael. On St. Brigid’s Eve, “Adult females spent the eve making an oblong basket in the shape of a cradle, leaba Bride, ‘the bed of Bride.’” An icon of Bride (Brigid) was decorated and placed into it; the goal was to welcome Bride to visit for the night so she would bestow good fortune on the home (Hutton 1996).
Bride’s Basket
This description of the Bride’s Bed ritual inspired me to make my own version: a Bride’s Basket. This basket can be used to welcome Brigid into your home and ask for her blessings.
Materials
Dish to use as a mold—a plastic or glass bowl. (To achieve the cradle shape, use an oblong dish or ovular bowl; round is perfectly fine if that’s all you have. I used an oval-shaped ramekin.)
Cling wrap ($2)
Tacky craft glue that dries clear, such as Elmer’s Craft Bond ($3)
1 package of raffia (around $5, depending on package size)
Scissors
Cost: $10
Time spent: 30 minutes to 1 hour, not including drying time
First, wrap the bowl with cling wrap and secure the ends of the wrap inside the container. Use plenty of wrap. The entire dish should be covered, with the ends of the plastic wrap on the inside of the dish. Pour some glue into a container and submerge the raffia strands into the glue. Be sure they’re well-coated. Smooth glue over each strand of raffia. If you dislike the dunking method, you can apply the glue with your fingertips. Either way, you need to be sure the entire strand of raffia is coated with the glue.
Working quickly, wrap the raffia all around the outside of the bowl. Your hands will get messy, but bare hands are easier than trying to wear gloves. You’ll need to wrap in two ways: first, in circles around the dish horizontally, keeping the strands tight against each other. Then, you will also need to wrap the raffia vertically over the top and bottom of the bowl (you will simply cut away any unnecessary pieces from the top when the bowl is dry). Wind the raffia around and stick the ends to the bottom of the bowl. After you wrap the sides, wrap across the top and bottom (remember, the top will be cut off). Criss-crossing the strands in many directions will make a stronger bottom for the basket. If desired, wrap one final strand or two around the top to finish it and create a header.
It’s fine if there are gaps in your basket; it doesn’t have to be perfect. When you’re done, be sure to smooth down any pieces that are sticking up before leaving it to dry. You can still slide the raffia around during the drying process, if you choose, to even out the strands and close up any large gaps. When you’ve covered the entire bowl, allow the glue to dry—overnight is best. Leave it to dry bottom-up on a cookie sheet or baking rack.
When the glue is dry, or dry enough that you feel comfortable working with it, it’s time to remove the raffia from the mold. Begin by cutting away the top. Don’t worry about the edges yet; you’ll trim those last. For now, you just need to create an opening. Next, carefully peel away the raffia “bowl” from the mold. The cling wrap should prevent it from sticking. Work slowly, releasing a section at a time. Peel off the cling wrap and discard it. Finally, trim away the rough top edges with scissors. You now have a basket to use for Bride’s Bed.
Here are some tips for success:
1. Lay out cut raffia strands beforehand so you can grab them easily. You can alternate between long and short strands (which may be helpful if you have a dish that is longer than it is tall).
2. I stopped about four times during the process to wash my hands. This will happen.
3. The “tacky” craft glue may be stickier than simple “school” glue, but it’s still easy to clean up and may give your basket a tighter hold. The school glue is thinner and takes longer to dry. Just be sure to clean your work surface quickly—it will be easier. If the glue does dry on your counter or hands, a mesh sponge works great to scrub it off.
To use your Bride’s Basket in your Imbolc celebration, you can follow the traditional ritual and place a corn dolly or wheat sheaf inside it to symbolize the goddess. You can also place symbolic offerings in it, such as small crystals or something else of importance to you for this time of year, or decorate it with three battery-powered tea lights to represent Brigid’s triple aspects of poetry, smith-craft, and healing. Place the basket on your altar or other special place overnight and ask the goddess Brigid to bless your home.
If you want to use your basket later for practical or decorative purposes, you can line it with extra loose raffia or other filler material, such as decorative fabric or even moss. Or you can save it and use it for Imbolc each year.
Salted “Ice” Candle
Candles are often the centerpiece of Imbolc celebrations. Here’s a fun way to “dress up” candles to evoke the season.
Materials
Epsom salts ($2–$5 depending on size of package)
Mod Podge, or other craft glue that dries clear ($2–$7)
Pillar candle ($5–$10)
Paint brush or sponge to apply the glue
Tray or cookie sheet
Cost: $9–$22
Time spent: About 10 minutes
Pour a layer of Epsom salts onto a cookie sheet or tray. “Paint” the glue onto the candle—you can cover the entire candle at once, if you like, or work in sections. While the glue is still wet, roll the candle in the salt.
At first, the salt will look like ice crystals. As the glue sets and the ice crystals absorb the moisture, they will turn white and look like bits of sleet. The candle will still be pretty, but won’t have the same ice crystal appearance. You can go ahead and use the candle, though, even before the glue is completely dry. In addition, consider placing the candle in a dish of Epsom salt while it’s burning. You can add the leftover salt to your bath for a relaxing soak. Either way, never leave a burning candle unattended.
Reference
Hutton, Ronald. Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
