If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day bring cloud and rain,
Winter won't come again.
If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,
Half of Winter's to come and mair.
If Candlemas Day be wet and foul,
The half of Winter's gane at Yule.
Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day bring cloud and rain,
Winter won't come again.
If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,
Half of Winter's to come and mair.
If Candlemas Day be wet and foul,
The half of Winter's gane at Yule.
The term "Candlemas" refers to the practice found in former Roman Missals whereby a priest on February 2 would bless the candles for use during the year (said candles must be of beeswax). This practice is called for in the present Roman Missal in which candles are still blessed, some of which are distributed to the faithful for use in the home.
In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks.
Well In Punxsutawney, the groundhog did not see his shadow so they can expect a short winter. On the other hand, in Sun Prairie, Jimmy said "More winter is on the way..."http://www.groundhogcentral.com/ When they brought Jimmie out there was a wind chill of 8 below so I guess it was no wonder he predicted more winter! Yuck.
I have to go over to church today and work on stuff but that is all I have to do outside the house. I do have to bundle up though as they keep the heat way down when there isn't anyone there!
Hope you are warm, and healthy!
Lynda
Honesty is a good thing, but it is not profitable to its possessor unless it is kept under control.
Don Marquis
2 comments:
Your post about candlemas day brought to mind a tradition that I remembered from my childhood. I went to Catholic grade school and to Mass every morning before school. On St Blaise day we would have our "throats blessed", the preist would hold two crossed candles over the front of the neck and say a prayer. I remembered being told it would help with throat sicknesses, and about someone having a fishbone stuck. It was a yearly thing, I recall more of the actual blessing than the reason behind it. ANYWAY, so I just Googled it, and the Saint Blaise's feast day is FEB 3, and he is also the patron saint of WOOL COMBERS! He was martyred by being attacked with wool comb and then being beheaded.
That is so weird! I was searching for pictures this afternoon for the powerpoint production for this Sunday and saw a picture of the blessing of the throat and I just thought it was for someone who had throat cancer or something! What a ghastly way to die. Those teeth aren't that long-he must have been kind of worn down!
Lacelibrarian
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