Yes, it's true, we've reached the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Societies have long celebrated this time when winter appears to turn the corner toward spring. Variously known as Imbolc to the Celtic tribes, Candlemas to the church, and Groundhog Day to tourist hungry small towns today, it's one of the seasonal changes that I remember the most, perhaps because I'm looking forward to spring.
I know, you're thinking of Shubenacadie Sam or Wiarton Willie, or stateside Punxsutawney Phil, but spare me a moment while we delve deeper into the meaning of this day as February arrives.
Celtic society was deeply tied to the passage of the seasons. Imbolc represents the beginning of spring, and the beginning of lambing season. It was one of the four cross-quarter festivals the Celts celebrated in between the solstices and equinoxes, the others being Beltane (May Day), Lughnasadh (Lammas Day) and Samhain (Hallowe'en). Each of these festivals represented the beginning of a season to the Celts, the beginning, in turn, of spring, summer, fall and winter,
If you remember that Celtic society was based in Scotland and Ireland primarily, this day as the beginning of lambing season makes sense, though here it southern Ontario, it's just a little cold yet!
In Celtic society Imbolc was tied to Brigid the Celtic goddess of the hearth, fire, and light. And it's reflected in brighter, longer days, with the sun higher in the sky. With that understanding it was natural for the church to adopt Brigid as St. Brigid (one of Ireland's three patron saints), and to replace fire with candles, and thus we have Candlemas.
Candlemas celebrates the presentation of Jesus at the temple, but it is also celebrated as St. Brigid's Day. It is widely symbolized by candles, families bringing their candles to the church to be blessed.
According to ancient legends it is also the time when the 'Cailleach' or old woman, would have to go out and gather more wood for fuel if it was going to be a long winter, She preferred a bright sunny day to do this, so sunshine on candlemas was seen as a prediction of more winter. If it's a dull day, spring will come sooner.
And as is our wont, we have trivialized and commercialized this into Groundhog Day, a tourist festival in Wiarton, Shubenacadie and Punxsutawney, among other places, for the benefit of tv, newspapers and the weather forecasters. I'm very pleased to report that our nearest groundhog dragged unceremoniously from its burrow in Wiarton today would not have seen its shadow, so we're in for an early spring. But I'm sorry to report to you that groundhogs are only right 50% of the time!
I enjoyed this post. I remember taking candles to the church to be blessed but didn't remember when we did it. I could certainly use an early spring this year. It is still raining here and hasn't turned to snow yet but at least some of the snow from last week is melting.
ReplyDeleteHmmm… our seasons are shifting. We didn’t really get any cold weather in December here in London. And last year April was *freezing*. Spring used to be warming up in March. Let’s see what happens this year.
ReplyDeleteIn New Zealand it all depends where you live, for the lambs to start appearing. Up North, earlier, and in the fare south, a whole lot later. I love those terms from Scotland, and wish I had talked to my Grandma more about her life there. However, way back in the 1940's and '50's we didn't chat so much about earlier life.All I remember was her telling me " We played chuckie stones in the Clyde" . So you will get a few more seconds of sunshine and daylight every day from now on, as our mornings are so much darker now at 6 a.m.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that WIllie is right this year. At least it is warmer today. We had some melting on the driveway. In fact, it has been scraped bare.
ReplyDeleteIf only spring and summer lasted as long as winter seems to. There certainly won't be any lambing here for some time yet. Bitterly cold here, and if there were a groundhog, it would have seen it's shadow. Lots of sunshine.
ReplyDeleteNice to know spring makes its way here again. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting to consider how many of the old "pagan" celebrations and festivals modern society (including the Christian church) has adopted with only minimal adaptation and new names.
ReplyDeleteHappy Candlemas!!
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ReplyDeleteWe'll have snow into April here.
ReplyDeleteHope Sam was wrong here. Yuck!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I remember when lambs were born in winter time when I lived on the farm growing up. We have been to Punxsutawney, PA years ago when we went to visit hubby's grandma. We saw the groundhog which was adorable. Hubby grew up in PA and left when he joined the US Air Force after he graduated from high school. We never know how exactly the groundhog reports. We'll see what happens. It was a bit cold when I went to work this a.m. with a bit of wind. A bit of rain when I left work this afternoon. Take care !!
ReplyDeleteI'll take that 50% as a good sign for warmer days ahead:))
ReplyDeleteWell, the calendar says we will definitely have six more weeks before the equinox. Days are getting longer at a brisk clip, which makes me happy. :-)
ReplyDelete6 weeks - give or take. Ha ha. I'll take it. :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting about Candlemas and the 'old woman' of ancient history.
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ReplyDeletei love winter but have turned the corner where i am now looking forward to spring!! and groundhog day, entertaining i guess!!
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