Re: samhain?

this would also explain why it's pronouced, in english, as [Imolk] rather
than [Imbolk] (not strictly accurate transcriptions, there).  that is,
gaelic *i mbolg* would be pronouced without the b - the presence of the b
is an orthographic convention to show that the m is a nasal mutation of a b.

an alternative view, one that i don't hold, is that it's coming "out of the
belly of winter" or some such.

On Tue, 2 Nov 2004, John Cowan wrote:
> 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