Since Imbolc follows shortly after everyone returns from Winter Break, you may want to plan ahead for this one. However, since the Spring semester has barely begun, you should be able to get some good planning time in before it become crunch time.

Imbolc, also known as Candlemas, is a fire-based holiday. Think of what you can do to involve fire in your activities.

If you choose to hold a ritual, ring your circle with tea light candles. They're cheap, small, and easy to find. (Grocery stores, Dollar stores, and home goods stores like Linen's N Things carry them.) The main part of your ritual can be focused on lighting a central candle, passing it around the circle letting each person make a statement of what they wish to bring about by the next Sabbat, and letting it burn throughout the night.

This would also be a good time to have a candle-dipping party to make the candles for the rest of the semester. (If you're ambitious, you can try to make candles to last your group until next Imbolc!) In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Then put empty soup cans into the water for a makeshift double-boiler. Melt wax (leftover candle wax, paraffin wax, crayons, etc.) in the soup cans. Add herbs or essential oils if you wish to make candles for specific purposes. (Research in a good book like Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Herbs or Book of Incenses, Oils, and Brews for appropriate correspondences and mixtures.) Take turns dipping wicking into the melted wax to make taper candles, and state the purpose of the candle each time you dip it.

If making tapers seems like it will take too long, pour melted wax into cylinders (small paper cups for votives, larger paper cups or empty frozen orange juice cans for pillars, etc.) for quicker candle-making. Be sure to save some wax to top off your candles, because they become concave in the center as they cool. Make layered candles of different colors, or even look for molds if you can. Use your imagination!

Imbolc is usually held on February 2nd--Groundhog's Day in the United States. Lore states that if the groundhog see his shadow, he hides back in his hole for the next 6 weeks, meaning there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, he stays out of his hole and Spring is on its way. Go outside and see if you can do some weather predictions. Write down your group's answers and see who is right over the next few weeks.

Even if there will be an extra six weeks of winter, now is a good time to start planning out and beginning a group herb garden. Get large planters, soil, fertilizer, and seeds. Find a local nursery to help you on your way. Also look in almanacks for the best times to plant. If you begin now, you should have a good set of sprouts when Spring arrives. Have a member take care of it through the summer, and you should have a good harvest come Fall.

Imbolc is also known as Brigit's Day. She is a Celtic goddess of the smiths and fire, and was later adopted by the Christians as "Saint" Brigit. See if there are any forges near you (historical sites are the best places to look) and take a field trip. If there are no forges, go on a field trip anyway to find metal tools for the group...a cauldron, sword, iron candle holders, etc. Bless and consecrate them.