Happy Candlemas! The day the Church celebrates the presentation of the Infant, the purification of the Virgin, and has traditionally blessed candles, a reminder of Christ being the light of the world. In pre-Christian Britain and Ireland, this time of year was known as Imbolc and, stationed as it is halfway between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox, it was time to celebrate the approach of spring. Scholarship suggests that pagan celebrants also honored a deity they called Brigit at this time, and lit sacred bonfires in her honor. I love the romance of this, whether true or not (and, sadly, much of the scholarship regarding pre-Christian religion in the British Isles has been retconned by neo-pagan biases and doesn’t hold up to the historical record), that the whole weary world longed so fiercely for our Savior, that we were lighting signal fires for Him, even though we didn’t know His Name.
Great story! It's funny; I haven't even begun to raise chickens yet (planning stages), and I'm already contemplating whether or not we can add Nigerian dwarf goats to our suburban homestead...
Whenever I hear "gateway _anything_ " I hear it in Nancy Reagan's voice. The '80's were often a dumb time in which to grow up. Minus the ability to free range as a child, which was good. Delightful writing, as always!
Great story! It's funny; I haven't even begun to raise chickens yet (planning stages), and I'm already contemplating whether or not we can add Nigerian dwarf goats to our suburban homestead...
Whenever I hear "gateway _anything_ " I hear it in Nancy Reagan's voice. The '80's were often a dumb time in which to grow up. Minus the ability to free range as a child, which was good. Delightful writing, as always!