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Imbolc

(Britain, Ireland) A Gaelic and Wiccan festival celebrated on 1 or 2 February which marks the beginning of spring.

ˈɪmbɒlk101 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(Britain, Ireland) A Gaelic and Wiccan festival celebrated on 1 or 2 February which marks the beginning of spring.

[T]hat the ancient Irish, at some remote period, did divide the year into the three seasons of Samh, summer, Gamh, winter, and Imbolc, spring (omitting the Foghmhar, or autumn), is quite evident from the fact, that Cormac Mac Cuileannain…
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).
For parents

"Imbolc" means: A Gaelic and Wiccan festival celebrated on 1 or 2 February which marks the beginning of spring.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"Imbolc" means: A Gaelic and Wiccan festival celebrated on 1 or 2 February which marks the beginning of spring.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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For specific readers

"Imbolc" means: A Gaelic and Wiccan festival celebrated on 1 or 2 February which marks the beginning of spring.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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