When I first envisioned this post, I intended to write about Celtic folklore-inspired ways to get through the dreariness, coldness, sicknesses, and the seemingly never-ending-ness of winter. This idea became particularly appropriate as parts of the U.S. were plunged into artic cold temps and icy snowstorms.
Then fires in L.A. broke out. There were earthquakes in California and other parts of the world, and lots of weird stuff has been happening each day online for me—like my professional email site vanishing without a trace and my blog website’s hosting site periodically refusing to download. Today as I write this, I’m having back spasms and my back’s not happy about having spasms and me writing at the same time.
But when I think about the people in LA who’ve had to flee their homes and those who’ve lost them as well as photos and other irreplaceable things, back pain and a late blog post are not worth fretting over.
You don’t have to be battling winter snowstorms to get something out of today’s post. The details may be focused on winter, but at its heart, this post is about holding onto hope, staying well, and bringing joy into your life despite life’s greyness and struggles. So, whatever is going on in your life right now, I hope you find encouragement and even joy in this post.
Just Remember Winter Will End
Once upon a winter dreary / as I sniffled, cold and weary…okay, yes, I am misquoting Poe. But if you’ve ever been through a relentless winter, you know what I’m talking about. I am a native Floridian and am currently in Florida, but I’ve lived in several states and gone through my share of winter weather. The first time I experienced snow I was twenty-eight and living in New Orleans. It snowed for a day. But the following year I was in St. Louis, Missouri and learned the winter really was. In December, life was magical! By May, I was getting depressed.
My entire world was icy and drab. It seemed there would never be warmth or color again. Then the first buds of spring began to open. COLOR! Red, green, blue, yellow. I got my camera and took about a hundred pictures (only a slight exaggeration) of blooming flowers. I was giddy! Practically singing for joy. A housemate of mine from Maine thought I was nuts!
Regardless, my ecstasy at the return of color is one I will never forget. It’s important to remember: winter is temporary. Spring—joy and new life—will return.
So…Where Are We in Winter?
The answer to the above question is important but it depends on what calendar you choose to live by. All right. It’s actually dependent on God and nature, but I’m heading towards a hopeful thought, so work with me here.
According to the Gregorian calendar (the one officially used by most of the world), winter began on December 21, 2024 (the winter solstice). Spring officially arrives on March 21, 2025. By that timeline, we’ve only just begun and there’s a long journey ahead.
But the Celtic perspective is different. According to the Celtic calendar, winter began at Samhain (sundown on October 31st to sunset on November 1st). The winter solstice is mid-winter. Spring, by Celtic timekeeping, begins on Imbolc (aka Brigid’s Day), February 1, 2025. So, the end is near! Well…sort of. There are caveats. Let’s face it. We all know snow and ice are unlikely to be in the rearview mirror in February and the world is not going to burst out in colorful blooms a couple of weeks from now. So, what does February 1st have to do with anything? Let’s talk folklore.
According to the lore, winter is brought on by the Cailleach, the goddess of winter. The Scots call her Beira, and that’s how I’m going to refer to her because, well, a name is nicer than a title. So, Beira covered the lands in snow then settled down in her house, nice and cozy, next to the fireplace and probably sipping a good cup of tea. But long about the end of January (remember winter’s been going on since November), the firewood’s beginning to dwindle.
Each year, on February 1st, she goes out to get some more firewood. Now she’s a powerful goddess who can control the weather, so she’s not going out in a blizzard! Thus, the folklore says, if the weather is good on Brigid’s Day (Feb. 1st) it’s bad news. Beira’s going to get herself another pile of firewood and winter’s going to last a good while longer. BUT, if the weather is bad, yay! It means she’s overslept and missed her outing. That means winter will be over sooner rather than later.
Why, you ask, doesn’t she just go out on February 2nd? It’s a legitimate question and I don’t know the answer. But here’s a possible explanation. According to Celtic folklore, Brigid, the young and beautiful goddess of summer, fire, and a million other things, battles and overthrows Beira every year then she brings light and warmth back to us humans (nice of her, isn't it). My theory: since February 1st is Brigid’s Day, the young goddess might be so busy being adored that day that Beira knows she can sneak out and get firewood without running into her. Just a thought. So, that’s the folklore connection between February 1st and the onset of spring.
The other part of winter, spring, and February 1st is the Celtic fire festival of Imbolc. Each of the four fire festivals marks the start of a season and Imbolc got spring. The significant thing is that the name Imbolc is thought to be derived from an Old Irish word meaning “in the belly.” Translation: pregnant. Scholars believe this has to do with pregnant ewes and the coming of the lambing season.
But folklore adds more layers to this. Imbolc is associated not only with fertility and spring but also with hidden potential and growth. The earth is pregnant, quietly preparing to burst forth with new life. Of course, hidden potential can exist in humans as well as in the earth. Spring is a new life, a new start. The bottom line is this: even though winter may not (likely will not) end on February 1st, keep in mind that new life is on its way. And where there’s life, there’s hope.
Life in the Midst of Winter
You don’t have to wait for spring for life, greenery, color, or hope. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the Celts brought evergreens into the house during winter. They believed these plants contained powerful magic that allowed them (the plants) to live and stay green during the season when everything else seemed lifeless. The Celts hoped that that magic of vitality would rub off on everyone in the house.
Psychologically, having living greenery in the house during winter is an excellent idea. It’s great, during the bleak season, to have something around you that’s thriving. The pop of color is life-giving too. And it turns out that there’s more to it than just an emotional boost.
One of the plants the Celts brought inside in the winter was ivy. The druids considered the plant sinister—but they respected its hardiness (how difficult it is to kill) and believed its magic was potent. Modern science indicates that ivy is indeed a great plant to have in the house—all the time, not just in winter. It is an air purifier. So, while red holly berries add a touch of holiday joy, ivy may be a genuine boost to your winter well-being.
Now here’s the reality check: ivy has been shown to remove some pollutants from the air but it won’t protect you from everything. If you’re allergic to pet dander or dust, keep your electric air purifying machine going. And, if you want to stay safe from flu and COVID, get immunizations, and practice good health hygiene (wash your hands frequently, distance yourself from people who are coughing and sneezing, you know—practice common sense).
Color Your World!
Taking the Celtic idea of bringing evergreens into the house in winter further, why stop at green? There are many plants that bloom in the winter, and many can be grown indoors. Remember me mentioning that pop of color? Go beyond green ivy and red holly berries. You can surround yourself with pink, purple, and yellow too! These plants won’t purify the air, but they will color your life. There are several websites online with long lists of winter houseplant possibilities. I encourage you to check them out. But here are a couple Celtic-related, winter-blooming plants to get you started.
Primroses: I’ve talked about these in conjunction with Beltane (the start of summer). Scattering yellow primrose flowers is a way to prevent faerie mischief. BUT Celtic folklore encourages bringing plants into the house that give faeries a refuge from the cold. Why do that (besides simply being kind)? The idea is that you will win the faeries’ gratitude, and they will bestow blessings, like good health and safety, on you and your family. So, why bring primroses into the house if the plant repels faeries? Because it doesn’t. The color yellow does. The great news: primroses come in pink, blue, purple, white, and orange too. So, choose your favorite color. As long as it isn’t yellow.
Gorse: If you don’t mind keeping the faeries away, Gorse has beautiful sunny-yellow blossoms. It is an evergreen and flowers throughout the year. As an added bonus the blossoms smell like coconut! The caveat here is that gorse is a bush, so you won’t be able to keep it in the house for more than one winter. It will need to be transplanted into your garden or yard. But that just means that next winter you’ll have color outside too!
Don’t Forget the Herbs
Again, you’re not limited to evergreens. Your indoor greenery can include herbs. I highly recommend having them around because they’re pretty, nutritious, and—according to Celtic folklore—magical. Whether it’s chamomile to soothe your sore throat or headache, mint to calm your digestion, or elderberry to improve your immune system, herbs are an invaluable help for winter woes. Plus, they keep helping in so many ways throughout the year. And that’s not folklore. Scientific research has demonstrated the health benefits of various herbs. I’ve written extensively about them, about the folklore (the magical properties) and the scientifically proven health benefits. Here's a post about herbs that help ease the aches and pains of winter ailments.
So, take heart! Spring is coming. In the meantime, surround yourself with life and color.
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All artwork for this post (except for the Ukranian flag and the GIF) by Christine Dorman via Bing Image Creator.
Slán go fóill
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