IT’S one of the year’s most spectacular events.
And organisers of Imbolc, the Celtic fire festival, want you to get involved.
The 19th annual extravaganza takes place outside the Standedge Tunnel Visitors’ Centre, Marsden, on February 5.
Imbolc, pronounced ‘im-olk’, celebrates the end of winter and the coming of spring.
The festival, which attracts thousands of visitors, includes pyrotechnics, fire sculptures, fire skills displays, theatrical performances and a torchlight parade.
Last year’s event, which attracted 3,500 people, won Event of the Year at the Examiner Community Awards.
Organisers have arranged fire skills workshops at the Visitors’ Centre on January 22 and 29.
Festival organiser, Angie Boycott-Garnett said: “The workshops we run at Standedge are designed to release people’s creative talents and they also give people the chance to walk away with some impressive performance skills.
“The lantern workshops are open to any age or ability, so we hope that the wider community come down and join in.”
To take part in the fire skills workshops call Marsden Information Point: 01484 845595.
Imbolc heralds the first signs of spring with purification and fire as the main themes.
Candle lighting and fire represents the increasing warmth of the sun as Winter gives way to Spring.
The name comes from an Irish word that was originally thought to mean ‘in the belly’.
Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of spring.
Originally dedicated to the goddess Brighid, in the Christian period it was adopted as St Brigid’s Day.
