Imbolc Weaving

My Winter Weaving is off the loom, and has been finished ready for hanging. I've decided to call it Imbolc, in honour of the Celtic festival that takes place at the beginning of February. Imbolc is known within the Celtic Church as Candlemas, or St. Brigid's Day. Before the arrival of Christianity, it was celebrated as one of the four Celtic 'Fire Festivals'. Traditionally, Imbolc commemorates the changing of the threefold Goddess from the Crone to the Maiden. It celebrates the first signs of Spring, as the first green shoots begin to emerge with the returning sun and the days begin to lengthen. So, the festival of Imbolc commemorates the successful passing of winter and announces the beginning of the agricultural year. The 52 colours contained in my weaving, all extracted from natural plant materials, reflect the dormant colours of the winter countryside and the rich browns of the ploughed earth.