Imbolc


Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Im·bolc

(ĭm′bōlg′)
n.
An ancient Celtic feast, usually held on February 1, marked by acts of divination and rites of purification.
[Old Irish : imm, imb-, about, mutually; see ambhi in Indo-European roots + perhaps bolg, bag, sack (a bag symbolizing plenty perhaps having played a role in the festival); see bhelgh- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Imbolc

(ˈɪmbəlk; ˈɪmbəʊlk; ˈɪmməlk) or

Imbolg

n
(Other Non-Christian Religions) an ancient Celtic festival associated with the goddess Brigit, held on Feb 1 or 2 to mark the beginning of spring. It is also celebrated by modern pagans
[C15: from Old Irish oimelc ewe's milk]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
References in periodicals archive ?
It was very early in the year, around the time you call Imbolc, halfway between the winter and spring solstices.
"I saw what I initially thought was a man standing, looking around and sniffing, and it was only when it dropped to four paws that I realised it was a bear" EXTRACT 2 OF 2
The pagan form was celebrated at the festival of Imbolc, on February 1st when ewes came into milk.
Move over St Paddy and give a girl a chance
Traditionally, Slaithwaite Moonraking falls on every odd year, while Imbolc Fire Festival falls on even years, so planning has now started for a "restructured" and "more sustainable" 2021 event.
Moonraker festival looks for new blood; IN BRIEF
The Southern Illinois Pagan Alliance will present Imbolc, its first public ritual of 2018, Saturday, Feb.
Official spring enrollment at SIU's Carbondale campus declined 8.81 percent, the
SINGER Brian Kennedy is to join the line-up for the first ever Imbolc Festival next month.
Brian Springs into action at Celtic festival
| Conway 50+ Group celebrates National Storytelling Week with stories about the Celtic early spring celebration of Imbolc. Presented by Cath Little, today, Wednesday, at 10.30am at the Conway Church Hall, Romilly Crescent, Cardiff.
EVENTS DIARY; WHAT'S ON IN YOUR COMMUNITY
The ancient Celts celebrated spring at Imbolc, a festival for the goddess Brighid.
Spring is (finally) in the air!
Spring forward THIS weekend celebrates Imbolc, Candlemas or Brigid's Day and traditionally welcomes the first signs of spring.
GREEN SCENE; GROW
These eight high days are known as Samhain (October 31st), Yule/Winter Solstice (December 21st), Imbolc (February 2nd), Ostara (March 21st), Beltane (May 1st), Midsummer/Summer Solstice (June 21st), Lughnassadh (August 1st), and Mabon (September 21st).
Druids in Quebec: Ethnographic Fieldwork among Druids in Montreal
By the Celtic way of reckoning, the early February cross-quarter day, Imbolc, marks the beginning of spring.
Celtic groundhogs
These include Imbolc - otherwise known as the festival of the lactating sheep - when pagans build piles of stones (so that's why lags break rocks in the local quarry) and the Summer Solstice, where pagans dance naked and drink mead.
Beyond belief; Lags'pagan dodge is daft as TV's Porridge