Imbolc

Origin: [[File:The Imbolc Ritual Altar.jpg|thumb|An altar set up to mark Imbolc at an event in Reading, Berkshire, England]] , originally the name of a pagan festival, later a name for Candlemas. The etymology of the Old Irish word is uncertain; common explanations include the following: * From , referring to pregnant ewes. * From , referring to a ritual cleansing. * Perhaps from , though the connection between the milking of animals and the festival is not clear. Some descendants of this root have meanings related to cleansing (for example, , ), so the root could also have the sense of purification. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).