This post may contain affiliate links from Amazon and other sites that we collect a share of sales from. For maximum flavor, sprinkle with malt vinegar and salt, accompanied by a pint of Guinness, or your favorite beverage. With sage, rosemary, lemon, and maple (and an optional addition of gin for your choice of a cocktail or mocktail), this magically delicious beverage is packed with intention for purifying away old energy, while inspiring some introspection, wisdom, and healing. Weve planned leg of lamb, Irish soda bread with best butter, & spring greens. Learn Religions. Food and Drinks Butter, cream, milk, yogurt, spicy foods, raisins, pumpkin, sesame & sunflower seeds, poppyseed bread/cake, honey cake, pancakes, waffles, herbal tea, garlic, lamb, leeks, onions, shallots. Add to the chicken mixture and stir to coat in the sauce. Pour the mixture on top of the caramel in the cake pan. Dandelion is another plant associated with Imbolc. allium vineale The first recipes I ever created for Gather were in honor of the beautiful Celtic spring feis (feast or festival) known as Imbolc, Imbolg, or Brigids Feast of Fire and it was celebrated long before St. Brigids Daywas fixed to Feb.1st on the Gregorian calendar. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. Yes, there is a lot of confusion regarding the ancient calendars and reconciling them with the Wheel of the Year, which in reality is a modern-day invention that originated less than one hundred years ago. vodka Traditional Foods: Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, muffins, scones, and breads, all dairy products, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Raisins, Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas Incense: Basil, Bay, Wisteria, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Myrrh Stones: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Onyx, Turquoise Ritual Tools & Instruments White Altar Cloth Here are our favorite traditional and modern Imbolc foods (with special fairy suggestions shared with us by our resident kobolds cousin the Irish house elf, the bean-tighe. Melt 2 tbsp butter in pan and cook veggies until onion is clear about 10 min over medium heat. This recipe is adapted from The Matcha Green. I left the skin on mine but depending on what kind of blender you have you might not want to do this. Cut the meat into8 pieces, and trim away the rest of the excess fat. The word "Imbolc" comes in part from the phrase "ewe's milk," so dairy products become a big part of February celebrations. turns water into ale and stones into salt; cows give double their usual yield, dairy churnings are increased to fill many vessels with butter, one sack of malt makes eighteen vats of ale, and the bread supply is always sufficient for guests. Its also probable that the new greens and early spring herbs were also part of Brigids Feast. Imbolc - Circle of the Sacred Muse ATCC The full moon was Brigits public holiday and the new moon was her Holy Night. Place the ramekins into a baking dish, and fill the dish with hot water up to a depth of about ". Allow the whipping cream to sit at room temperature overnight to let it ripen. my comment re: cross-quarter days) in our recreations of these ancient holidays and quite forgotten the importance of the moon. In addition to dairy, foods symbolizing the sun, such as dandelion are also appropriate. Keep on a rolling boil for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until youve got a beautiful thick syrup. Pancakes and crepes are also an official food of the Christian Feast of St. Brigid, a fantastically popular figure in the middle ages. Wheat Toast With Jam: Toast a thick slice of bread, and spread on homemade orange or blackberry jam. Make these in advance and chill them, and break them out onceyour Imbolc feastis over. Imbolc Ritual Cake | Just A Pinch Recipes And according to this amazing book, nettles, chickweed, burdock, sheep sorrel, wood sorrel, yarrow, wild mustards, and winter cress were common potherbs consumed in the UK in spring pottages and stews. St. Brigid was believed to be a healer and teacher of herbcraft so many plants and flowers sacred to her and the sun (such as sage, heather, chamomile, bay and rosemary) have become part of the Imbolc Feast. If there are less of you, select just a couple of dishes or the recipes. Take a second to support Gather Victoria on Patreon! Pour custard mix into ramekins or custard cups. chickweed Check out this recipe Honey Cookies with Orange and Cinnamon | All Ways Delicious Each has its own magical purpose, rosemary, and sage, for example, brought their powers of purification and cleansing, so ritually important at this time of new beginnings. I am definitely going to stay tuned. These clumps are your butter, which means you're done. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To learn more about the Otherworldly Oracles website Privacy Policy, visit our Privacy Policy page here. Wild garlic has been used as a herb since the days of the Celts. Your posts are beautifully written and the photographs are gorgeous. At any rate, its well documented in folk customs across Europe & Eurasia & beyond, and in the writings of the early Greeks and Romans, that these rituals and feasts were considered vital to the fertility of the land and to the well-being of the people. Doe, A Deer, A Female Reindeer: The Spirit of Winter Solstice. Including some tips on how to decorate your altar for the occasion. Homemade butter is great because it's got a fuller flavor - mostly because you make with pure cream instead of diluting it with oils and water like commercially produced butter. As well as making traditional Imbolc foods over an open fire such as Brigids braided bread, soups, creamy stews, and desserts. Tip: You can make bechamel in the microwave too if you prefer! Kildare, or Cill Dara, means Church of the Oaks suggesting it was once a pre-Christian sanctuary. Don't let the butcher trim the fat off of the lamb chops. You can add flavor (and help prevent early spoilage) by adding a bit of salt to your butter. These juicy fruits are delicious, but they dont ripen until later in the year. Cranberry & Peppermint Honey Cake: Hail To The Mothers! Continue to whisk over the heat until the sauce is thick and smooth. 50 Recipes to Enjoy the Traditional Foods of Imbolc Halve the cherry tomatoes and remove the hard middle sections. Cut the onions and carrots into quarters, and put all the vegetables aside. Tighten the lid so it's sealed - I like to use a Mason jar for this, but you can use any kind you like. Maple Gin Hot Toddy. I line up the wedges and then pour the dressing over in a slow side to side motion so you end up with a tight zigzag of dressing over all the wedges of lettuce. It arrived in the 16th century with the potato. At that time, the ewes came into milk, and once milk arrived, you knew your family would have a source offoodagain. I wish you well, and all the best with your continued endeavors. traditions you can take a part in and different ways to decorate your altar, Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Butter, Honey Chamomile Tea Cake with Lemon Icing, This seed cake is a perfect modern version, 63 Easy Beltane Recipes Everyone Will Love, The 12 Olympian Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece, The Truth About St. Patrick, Snakes, and Pagans, How to Celebrate Imbolc: The Festival of Brigid. Chamomile & Lemon Custard Tarts. We love the magical celebration of Imbolc and the promise of the season to come. Its a time when the first ewes are lambing and is a celebration of the coming bounty of the warmer seasons. This ones easy and doesnt require a recipe, now does it? That said, there is no denying the importance of the idea of quarters(solstices and equinoxes marking the high point of the season) and cross-quarters( the beginning and end of seasons. Blackberries were sacred to Brigid and used in both protection and prosperity magic, and luckily I had loads in the freezer. The golden raisins add a bit of sunny sweetness. Add heavy cream and egg substitute. Pour into a mug, top with whipped cream or marshmallows and a pinch of cinnamon. Nigel Slater's recipes for asparagus hollandaise, and lamb with So heres to the coming of the light. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put the lamb on a rack over the oven, coat with the binder, and roast for about 1.5 hours at 180C/350F. Today, magical folks around the world celebrate this sabbat by making special Imbolc foods and beverage. 1-2 cups mixed herbs roughly chopped. Melt chocolate pieces, Bailey's and cream together over very low heat. Over the years Ive baked seeded cakes, braided bread, oat bannocks, and barley pies, Ive fried golden pancakes, made fresh cheeses, savory soups, and side dishes, and concocted creamy libations, all inspired by the Bright or Exalted one and her Feast of Light. "Recipes for the Imbolc Sabbat." Pour your yoghurt dressing over the iceberg wedges. This is a delicious recipe for a super tasty vegetarian lasagne. Take a second to support kitty fields on Patreon! Cook and stir until thickened. When first started writing about these old traditions and recipes there was so much confusion about dates, calendars and names (and still is!) Allow the lamb to cool. Beat the egg in a small bowl, and add 2 Tbsp. You can use as much or as little cream as you want, but just kind of as a guideline, if you're using the jar method above, a cup of cream will give you around half a cup of butter and a half cup of buttermilk. Braided bread is found in many forms, in many cultures. I love this! And since Imbolc evokes the bleating of lambs in my mind whenever I hear the word, I figured why not make the occasion special and roast a rack? As an ordained High Priestess myself, it has always been my understanding that December 21st is actually Midwinter, the same way that June 21st is Midsummer. Celebrate your Sabbat with seasonal recipes such as baked custard, bacon and leeks, braided bread, curried lamb, and Irish cream truffles. They set a place at the table for Brigid and place an oatcake on the doorstep in thanksgiving for the plenteous crop and good luck during the following year. I would have no hesitation about referring my colleagues to Gather Victoria for ideas and recipes for their own Sabbat feasts, and I plan to incorporate some of them into my own celebrations. : The Food Miracles of St. Brigid of Kildare. Its also the time of the year when the sunrise illuminates the chamber within the neolithic Mound of Hostages at the mythical Hill of Tara, which is believed to be an entrance to the Otherworld. Lightly brush the egg and water mixture over the braid, and then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Shred some of the excess fat and cook it down in a large pot or Dutch-oven. Caramel is extremely hot so make sure not to touch it. Feel free to do the same below. Thank you for this! Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Imbolc is a great time of fire and feasting. Roll each piece out until it's about 18" long, and about an inch thick. Im a little confused by your statement that the Celtic traditions did not celebrate cross-quarter dates at all when in fact the four festivals I name above are in fact the Cross-Quarter Festivals, also known as the Greater Sabbats. Mix the flour with the butter. On a medium temperature, heat the sugar and water until it starts to brown. The blackberries bring protection, and the cheese/dairy brings abundance in the Spring season. Enjoy this heaped onto some nice warmBraided Bread. Imbolc Recipes | Cauldron and Brew: A Witch's Blog Do not have knowledge of these beliefs and celebrations but am interested. And it was possible to avert any bad omens or bad luck by serving the cake with plenty of butter to your guests without the asking.. Put the cake pan in another baking dish and add water to way up the sides of the cake (make a. Seeds represent new beginnings and the possibility of what is to come for the year. While I have no Irish blood (of which I am aware) the Celts migrated from France (particularly Brittany) home to many of my ancestors. It may seem like an odd dessert, but trust me, its so delicious! Let this simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine, then bring to the boil. I had the starkest experience of this just the other day. Heather brought good luck and healing. Set the oven at 425 degrees. Keep in mind that feta is usually pretty salty so you may not need to add extra salt. I dont think Brigid or the bean-tighe will mind. Wigington, Patti. The word Imbolc is said to derive from the Old Irish Imbolg meaning in the belly, a time when pregnant ewes began to provide the first of the seasons milk, known as Oilmec or new milk. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Imbolc Recipes | Wiki | Wiccan Amino To make a great gift, roll up a cone of heavy parchment paper, drop some truffles inside, and tie with a ribbon. So as hard as it is to believe during this frigid time, we are actually welcoming Spring at the first of February. Dried fruit is common and so it pumpkin and potato. Same applies to the vanilla as the cinnamon, infuse overnight if you want to! Place in lump on saran wrap, then roll into a log. I love to make spiced hot chocolates in the winter. Top with the remaining bchamel and Parmesan and bake for 40 minutes, or until the top is nicely browned and the edges are crispy. Wigington, Patti. Mix the dressing into the chopped vegetables. If you're using your own homemade recipe, start working with it after you've kneaded it out into a ball. Butter is one of the most important foods of the festival. Celebrate Litha With Summer Solstice Recipes, Setting Up Your Lammas (Lughnasadh) Altar, 2/3 C. egg substitute (or four egg yolks), 2 Tbs butter (use real butter, not margarine), 2 lbs your favorite white fish: tilapia, haddock, flounder, 1 batch of your favorite homemade dough, or a loaf of frozen bread dough, thawed (this is in the frozen foods section at the grocery store), or a, 1 lb, raw carrots, chopped into bite-sized pieces, 1 1/2 lbs. Recipe: Oversized lamb and feta meatballs with plenty of spices aren't Then sit back and enjoy let your blessings roll in! This is a delicious, crunchy and refreshing salad which is great to offset the heaviness of the lasagne. The idea of food magic may seem strange, but for our ancestors, it was an, act of faith in blessings to come. Raise a toast to the sun, bake a golden cake, and welcome the arrival of the Goddess of Spring! By the time Ostara arrives in March, Spring is at its prime, and continues to mature through the month of April, until we arrive at the beginning of Summer which starts on the first day of May, also known as Beltaine. Don't let the butcher trim the fat off of the lamb chops. Serve with bread and butter (see braided bread and herb butter recipes above). Imbolc Feast Lamb Stew - Divine Sanctuary Mix baking soda and buttermilk in small bowl. Mix flour, sugar, poppyseeds, baking soda, and salt with a fork in an ungreased 9"x9"x2" baking pan. Modern pagans and some Christians still carry on the tradition of this ancient Celtic feast. Whip up some kitchen magic for your Sabbat meal with these tasty recipes, using seasonal themes to celebrate. A traditional Imbolc beverage is ale. Check the flavour and mix in lemon juice until you have a delicious dressing that suits your taste for sourness. St. Brigid turns water into ale and stones into salt; cows give double their usual yield, dairy churnings are increased to fill many vessels with butter, one sack of malt makes eighteen vats of ale, and the bread supply is always sufficient for guests. Top with cup of bchamel and smooth out. Simmer for a few more minutes, and remove from heat. Remove the tops and tails from the mangetout and thinly slice on an angle. The Wheel combines two different Pagan concepts regarding yearly festivals: a solar cycle which celebrated the solstices and equinoxes, and a natural fertility cycle which celebrated the four seasonal festivals which were identified with Gaelic names; namely Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. Reblogged this on Lets Live Local and commented: Place the braid either on a baking stone, or on a pan that has been sprinkled with cornmeal. You dont want to overmix the feta otherwise it completely disintegrates into the salad. Ive been covering Imbolc recently, and have talked about the history and meaning behind this magical fire festival, as well as sharing my favourite Imbolc Ritual and some tips and tricks for your Imbolc Altar setup as well as the various symbols associated with Imbolc. Cover the whole thing with a towel - trust me, this is important, because it gets really splashy. And still can! Bake the custards for one hour. Why not try one of these eight awesome recipes for your Imbolc celebrations? So, naturally, any dairy products or foods made with dairy are traditional Imbolc foods. Take the strips, and braid them together, trying not to stretch them out too much. The livestock was typically preparing for birth, and the lambing season would begin soon. Remove from baking sheet, and allow to cool for 15 minutes or more before serving. Let butter come to room temperature, until softened. You can make it a day ahead and store it in the fridge till you need it. Thank-you for your kind comments, reading these always mean the world to me. Wonderful to know how you got inspired by folklore I love doing that here in Germany. Imbolc - A Concise Guide to Candlemas Astrology, Rituals, Recipes Add the vinegar and mix. Cocktail & Mocktail. Consumed fresh, cultured into buttermilk cream, curds, cheese, and . The Julian Calendar replaced the old Roman calendar which measured the moon in relation to the earth and calculated months by the phases of the moon. Blend until smooth. And apparently according to the Coligny Calendar (used by the continental Celts before being banned by the Romans), Brigits celebration was not only set by the moon it occurred twice! If you like, instead of rolling in cocoa, use powdered sugar, colored sprinkles, flavored coffee powder or chopped nuts. This hearty wild onion soup (pictured below) is inspired by Brotchan Foltchep considered the most traditional of all Irish soups and the key element was usually oatmeal. Though, there is something missing . Serve as part ofyour Imbolc dinner if you don't eat meat, never fear! In addition to being a sacred day for Brigid, some Celtic pagans honor the little people or good folk, as some call them. Reblogged this on hocuspocus13 and commented: By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. This is a great drink which incorporates dairy and heat (a representation of fire) and tastes delicious. The ginger adds a nice little bit of zing to an otherwise sweet recipe. Remove from the oven and leave to cool until you're ready to eat (or freeze in a sealable container until required).