Today is the traditional feast of Candlemas, 2nd February.
I'm certainly not a Christian and this is one of their celebrations (the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple - yeah, whatever), but it has some interesting weather folklore attached to it and marks the 40th day after Christmas, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox.
In the United Kingdom, good weather at Candlemas is taken to indicate severe winter weather later:
"If Candlemas Day is clear and bright, winter will have another bite.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, winter is gone and will not come again."
The forecast is for cloud and maybe some rain where I am, so things could be looking up...It's also alleged to be the date that bears emerge from hibernation to inspect the weather along with wolves, but if they choose to return to their lairs on this day, this is interpreted as meaning severe weather will continue for another forty days at least. Well, I haven't seen too many bears and wolves around here recently but I'll be having a look out of the window later to see if any urban foxes are going through my neighbours' bins.
Interesting stuff about the weather and the animals! Early Feb is also know as Imbolc in the pagan calender (oh the Christians loved to dump a festival on an existing heathen one...), the time when the seeds begin to stir in the ground and there's a vague hint of spring on the horizon...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc
ReplyDeletehttp://www.applewarrior.com/celticwell/ejournal/imbolc/yesterdays.htm
Thanks for the comment and links Smileen (yeah, Imbolc), I expect the weather's pretty different where you are at the moment! Happy travels.
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