On February 7, 2026, Blackwater observed its first annual Imbolc Ceremony.
Imbolc is a pagan holiday marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is a celebration of the first stirrings of spring; in particular recognizing fertility, growth and light.
You might recognize Imbolc by other names. This ancient holiday was appropriated by other faiths as “Candlemas” and “St. Brigid’s Day.” It has even been transformed into secular traditions such as “Groundhog Day.” You can think of Imbolc as the halfway point of winter.
For those who hate winter (like Miss Alli), Imbolc is really fun because it means there are fewer days of winter ahead than behind. “Fuck winter,” said Miss Alli, when she announced the start of the Imbolc ceremony. “The ancient druidic and pagan holidays are super cool because they are based on nature and science. Whatever your faith might be, if any, we can all appreciate the natural cycles of our planet and our solar system, and we can all use an excuse for a nice party,” she explained.
Blackwater celebrated Imbolc with a brief ceremony at Blackwater Castle, followed by a small private party surrounded by massive bonfires. No slaves were harmed during the party, much to the disappointment of the ceremony hosts.