Imbolc | |
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Also called | Lá Fhéile Bríde (Irish) Là Fhèill Brìghde (Scottish Gaelic) Laa'l Breeshey (Manx Gaelic) |
Observed by | Historically: Gaels Today: Irish people, Scottish people, Manx people, Celtic neopagans and Wiccans |
Type | Cultural, Pagan (Celtic polytheism, Celtic Neopaganism, Wicca) |
Significance | beginning of spring |
Date | 1 February (or 1 August for Neopagans in the S. Hemisphere) |
Celebrations | feasting, making Brigid's crosses and Brídeógs, visiting holy wells, divination, spring cleaning |
Related to | Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau, Candlemas, Groundhog Day |
Imbolc is a festival belonging to Brigid, the Celtic goddess who, in later times, became famous as a Christian saint. At first, her festival on February 1 was known as "Imbolc" or "Oimelc", two Gaelic names which refer to the lactation of the ewes. Lactation is the flow of milk that happens when the baby lambs are born in the spring, and Gaelic languages are those spoken in countries like Ireland and Scotland.