Editing Imbolc (section)

===Neopaganism===
[[File:Imbolc Festival February 3rd 2007.jpg|thumb|250px|Imbolc Festival in [[Marsden, West Yorkshire]], 2007]]
Imbolc or Imbolc-based festivals are observed by some [[Neopaganism|Neopagans]], though practices vary widely. While some attempt to closely emulate the historic accounts of Imbolc, others rely on many sources to inspire their celebrations.<ref name="Adler1">Adler, Margot (1979) ''Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today''. Boston, Beacon Press {{ISBN|978-0-8070-3237-4}}. p.&nbsp;3</ref><ref>McColman, Carl (2003) ''Complete Idiot's Guide to Celtic Wisdom''. Alpha Press {{ISBN|978-0-02-864417-2}}. p.&nbsp;51</ref> Festivals typically fall near 1 February in the Northern Hemisphere and 1 August in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Drury |first=Nevill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwzttsI9-NwC&q=nevill+drury |title=Handbook of Contemporary Paganism |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-90-04-16373-7 |editor-last=Pizza |editor-first=Murphy |location=[[Leiden]], [[Netherlands]] |pages=63–67 |chapter=The Modern Magical Revival: Esbats and Sabbats |editor-last2=Lewis |editor-first2=James R}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hume |first=Lynne |title=Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia |publisher=Melbourne University Press |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-522-84782-6 |location=Melbourne}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Vos |first=Donna |title=Dancing Under an African Moon: Paganism and Wicca in South Africa |publisher=Zebra Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-86872-653-0 |location=Cape Town |pages=79–86}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bodsworth |first=Roxanne T |title=Sunwyse: Celebrating the Sacred Wheel of the Year in Australia |publisher=Hihorse Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-909223-03-8 |location=Victoria, Australia}}</ref>

Some Neopagans celebrate the festival at the astronomical midpoint between the [[winter solstice]] and spring [[equinox]] — in the Northern Hemisphere, this is usually on 3 or 4 February — while others rely on the full moon nearest this point.<ref>{{Cite web |title=archaeoastronomy.com explains the reason we have seasons |url=http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/seasons.html |access-date=15 January 2018 |website=Archaeoastronomy.com |archive-date=23 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123062729/http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/seasons.html |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Some Neopagans designate Imbolc based on other natural phenomena, such as the emergence of primroses, dandelions, or similar local flora.<ref name="Bonewits184-5">Bonewits, Isaac (2006) ''Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism''. New York, Kensington Publishing Group {{ISBN|978-0-8065-2710-9}}. pp.&nbsp;184–5</ref>

====Celtic Reconstructionist====
[[Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism|Celtic Reconstructionists]] strive to reconstruct [[ancient Celtic religion]]. Their religious practices are based on research and historical accounts,<ref name="McColman">McColman, Carl (2003) p.&nbsp;12</ref><ref name="Bonewits130-7">Bonewits (2006) pp.&nbsp;130–7</ref> but may be modified slightly to suit modern life. They avoid [[syncretism]] (i.e., combining practises from different cultures). They usually celebrate the festival at the start of spring, or on the full moon nearest this. Many use traditional songs and rites from sources such as ''The Silver Bough'' and ''The Carmina Gadelica''. It is a time of honouring the goddess Brigid, and many of her dedicants choose this time of year for rituals to her.<ref name="McColman" /><ref name="Bonewits130-7" />

====Wicca and Neo-Druidry====
[[Wiccans]] and [[Neo-Druidry|Neo-Druids]] celebrate Imbolc as one of the eight Sabbats in their [[Wheel of the Year]], following Midwinter and preceding [[Ostara]]. In Wicca, Imbolc is commonly associated with the goddess Brigid; as such, it is sometimes seen as a "women's holiday" with specific rites only for female members of a [[coven]].<ref>Gallagher, Ann-Marie (2005). ''The Wicca Bible: The Definitive Guide to Magic and the Craft''. London: Godsfield Press. p. 63.</ref> Among [[Dianic Wicca]]ns, Imbolc is the traditional time for [[initiation]]s.<ref name="Budapest">Budapest, Zsuzsanna (1980). ''The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries''. {{ISBN|978-0-914728-67-2}}.</ref>