Cross-Quarter day, meaning the mid-point of a season (or between the solstices and equinoxes). Candlemas and Groundhog Day grew out
of the much more ancient, Imbolc from Ireland, Scotland and other Celtic areas. Imbolc is one of four Gaelic seasonal festivals that include Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. The word Imbolc has its origins in Old Irish, meaning, “in the belly,” referring to the pregnancy or sheep, being one of the pre-cursors to spring. Christianity later adopted this holiday and celebrated it on the 2nd of February as one of twelve great feasts. Where the climate is mild enough, it is the very earliest awakening of some plants (like daffodils).
Erik Roth
Shamanic Astrologer