About Imbolc (St Brigid's Day)
Imbolc is the Gaelic festival that welcomes the first stirrings of spring, traditionally celebrated on February 1, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Its name is linked to the lambing season and the lactation of ewes, signalling that the worst of winter is passing. The festival is sacred to Brigid — a goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft, later honoured as the Christian St Brigid. This live Imbolc countdown shows how many days remain in your timezone.
Customs centre on light, fire and the home: candles and hearth fires were lit to encourage the returning sun, and homes were cleansed for the new season. In Ireland, people weave distinctive St Brigid's crosses from rushes to hang for protection, and leave out a cloth or ribbon (the Brat Bríde) believed to gain healing powers overnight. Since 2023, St Brigid's Day has been an official public holiday in the Republic of Ireland — the first Irish holiday named for a woman.
Imbolc is one of the four Gaelic fire festivals and cross-quarter days of the Wheel of the Year, kept on February 1 with its eve on January 31. Modern Pagans celebrate it as a festival of renewal and new beginnings. When the day passes, this page rolls over to next year — bookmark the live countdown or add Imbolc to your own countdown page.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Monday, February 1, 2027next |
| 2028 | Tuesday, February 1, 2028 |
| 2029 | Thursday, February 1, 2029 |
| 2030 | Friday, February 1, 2030 |
| 2031 | Saturday, February 1, 2031 |
FAQ
When is Imbolc?
Imbolc is traditionally celebrated on February 1, with festivities beginning the evening before. The countdown above shows the exact time remaining in your timezone.
Why is Imbolc celebrated?
It marks the beginning of spring and the return of longer days, honouring the goddess and saint Brigid and the promise of new life after winter.
How is Imbolc celebrated?
With candles and fires, spring cleaning, weaving St Brigid's crosses from rushes and feasting; modern Pagans mark it as a festival of renewal.
Is Imbolc the same as St Brigid's Day?
They share February 1: Imbolc is the older Gaelic festival, while St Brigid's Day is its Christian counterpart and, since 2023, an official Irish public holiday.