Re: samhain?

Thomas Leigh scripsit:

> "Imbolc" is not a modern Gaelic name;  [...]  I have never seen this
> name in either modern SG or IG; does anybody know what it's supposed
> to mean?
Wikipedia claims that it's < _i mbolg_ 'out of the belly' and refers
in some way to pregnant ewes.  An alternative name is Oimelc, which is at
least good OG for 'sheep's milk'.

In any case, it's Candlemas = St. Brigid's day = Groundhog Day = 1 February.

This is a subject thoroughly imbued with "the fabulous Celtic
twilight [...] not so much of the gods as of the reason":  the
most sensible article I've found (out of many bad ones) is at
http://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/7/torma.html

--
John Cowan  jcowan@reutershealth.com  www.reutershealth.com  www.ccil.org/~cowan
I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them
alive again from the water. I came from the end of a bag, but no bag
went over me.  I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am
Ringwinner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider.  --Bilbo to Smaug

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