February 2 is NOT “Groundhog Day” IF one is a committed, observant pagan.
February 2 is Imbolc.
Imbolc or Imbolg (Irish pronunciation: [ɪˈmˠɔlˠɡ]), also called Saint Brigid’s Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Bríde;
Scottish Gaelic: Là Fhèill Brìghde; Manx: Laa’l Breeshey), is a Gaelic traditional festival.
MOST of the latest information on Imbolc insists that the day is celebrated on February 1. Older information, however, has the day as February 2. (Perhaps Groundhog Day and Imbolc BOTH being on February 2 was a little bit too coincidental.)
Neopagans usually celebrate Imbolc on 1 February in the Northern Hemisphere and 1 August in the Southern Hemisphere. Some Neopagans celebrate it at the astronomical midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox (or the full moon nearest this point). In the Northern Hemisphere, this is usually on 3 or 4 February.
So, according to the latest information, apparently, February 1, 3 or 4 were fine days to celebrate Imbolc.
NOT on February 2, however.
Regardless of the claims of which day to celebrate, it’s easy to see how the two days might be confused.
ONE custom, in particular, marks both days.
This custom would be WEATHER DIVINATION reportedly using the behaviors of animals as the indicator.
Of course, Groundhog Day is ALL about weather divination using a groundhog–and little else.
An important part of Imbolc has been the weather divination based on various animal doings.
The festival was traditionally a time of weather divination, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens may be a forerunner of the North American Groundhog Day.
Imbolc, being the fullblown pagan holy day, honored a pagan goddess: Brigid.
This is not so much a public feature of Groundhog Day–as it was stated, Groundhog Day has been about WEATHER DIVINATION and little else.
Celtic Reconstructionists usually celebrate the festival when the first stirrings of spring are felt, or on the full moon nearest this. Many use traditional songs and rites from sources such as The Silver Bough and The Carmina Gadelica. It is a time of honouring the Goddess Brigid, and many of her dedicants choose this time of year for rituals to her.
Like most of the churches, many of the early “saints” were previously pagan gods and goddesses. It’s no different with “Saint” Brigid of Imbolc who was previously known as the GODDESS Brigid.
Wiccans and Neo-Druids celebrate Imbolc as one of the eight Sabbats in their Wheel of the Year, following Midwinter and preceding Ostara. In Wicca, Imbolc is commonly associated with the goddess Brigid and as such, it is sometimes seen as a “women’s holiday” with specific rites only for female members of a coven.
Groundhog Day–which is the modern, cleaned-up version of Imbolc–celebrates WEATHER DIVINATION using Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog. Phil supposedly sees his shadow and predicts if Spring will be earlier or later. Imbolc is not limited to groundhogs as weather progosticators, using different animals as their weather forecasters.
The pagan holiday of Imbolc continues to be celebrated around the world–though its name has been changed (to protect the innocent?) to GROUNDHOG DAY in many countries.
And as always: Imbolc, like many of the other pagan festivals we celebrate, is about FUN!, food and family.
MORE: IMBOLC: Celebrating Another Pagan Holiday
And whether one celebrates the day on February 1, 3 or 4th OR on its more traditional day of February 2–just like Groundhog Day–Imbolc is STILL a reminder that the time of the pagan is almost here.
And AFTER the time of the pagans (42 months), the climax of human history–the return of Jesus Christ–takes place.
HAS the reader ever wondered why he is hearing about pagan holidays more than he did previously?
It is not YET too late: there is still a little time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: February 1, 2022.]
MORE
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- Summer Solstice: Pagan Sun Celebrations in Field and Church
- Summer Solstice Celebrations: Public Paganism A Sign of the End Times
- IMBOLC: Celebrating Another Pagan Holiday
- Christmas: A Pagan Holiday…BUT
- Christmas 2016: Christmas in a Pagan Land
- Christmas is a Pagan Holiday, Not the Birthday of Jesus Christ
- Autumnal Equinox: Celebrating Mabon, Another Pagan Holiday, In THE WORLD’S MOST CHRISTIAN COUNTRY EVER!™
- Occult and Pagan Meditation Promoted by the Churches
- America Worships Pagan Gods
- Open Paganism: A Sign of the Times
- The Many Houses Where the Family’s Allegiance is to a Pagan God
- Celebrating Mabon
- Autumnal Equinox: Celebrating Mabon, Another Pagan Holiday, In THE WORLD’S MOST CHRISTIAN COUNTRY EVER!™
- The Bleating Plea to Celebrate the Summer Solstice
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- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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