Celebrating Imbolic

In calendars throughout the world, this is the time of great (Mon-Wed) Mid-Winter festivals, best known in the west as the days of Imbolc or Brigantia, Candlemas and many other fire festivals that mark the midpoint between Yuletide and the spring equinox, and bear the promise of returning light and resurgent vitality. This is the season of the thaw, in the fields and in the heart. The Sun is now at 315° on the zodiac wheel, 45 days before the spring equinox, 7/8 of the way through the old solar year. Thus it is a time of cleansing and purifation before the Equinox comes, and the word for the month comes from Roman februa, ritual objects used in the annual winter cleaning of the home and the ancestral tombs and monuments.

Though the name Imbolic is most certainly wiccan, the celebration of seasonal change was recognized by many cultures.  This site/page hopes to honor different paths and cultures that celebrate near the date of Imbolic.  I have listed those different cultures and their celebrations for your reference.  The common theme thru most of these celebrations is earth healing, cleansing. and the changing of the life cycle. 

'Candlemas' is the Christianized name for the holiday, of course. The older Pagan names were Imbolc and Oimelc. 'Imbolc' means, literally, 'in the belly' (of the Mother). For in the womb of Mother Earth, hidden from our mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings. The seed that was planted in her womb at the solstice is quickening and the new year grows. 'Oimelc' means 'milk of ewes', for it is also lambing season.

The holiday is also called 'Brigit's Day', in honor of the great Irish Goddess Brigit. At her shrine, the ancient Irish capitol of Kildare, a group of 19 priestesses (no men allowed) kept a perpetual flame burning in her honor. She was considered a goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry and healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery). This tripartite symbolism was occasionally expressed by saying that Brigit had two sisters, also named Brigit. (Incidentally, another form of the name Brigit is Bride, and it is thus She bestows her special patronage on any woman about to be married or handfasted, the woman being called 'bride' in her honor.)

http://www.spiritweb.org/News/2000/05/949361879.html