Candlemas

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac tomorrow is Candlemas – astronomically a Cross-Quarter day.  These days marked the midpoint between a solstice and equinox.  

In the ancient Celtic world this was a High Holy Day that signaled the beginning (not middle) of a season.  The Celts figured out that there were two major divisions - winter (Samhain) which signaled the beginning of the dark half of the year and summer (Beltane) the beginning of the light half of the year.  The English name is derived from the candles that lit that day in churches to celebrate the presentation of the Christ Child in the temple of Jerusalem.

Originally, this day was called Imbolc (lambs’ milk) because the lambing season began. It was also called Brigantia for the Celtic female deity of light, calling attention to the Sun’s being halfway on its advance from the winter solstice to the spring equinox.

Much of this day is grounded in the seasons—estimating how soon spring-like weather will come and when to plant the crops.

It was not held as a good omen if the day itself was bright and sunny, for that foretold snow and frost to continue to the hiring of the laborers 6 weeks later on Lady Day.

If it was cloudy and dark, warmth and rain would thaw out the fields and have them ready for planting.

This brings us to the modern equivalent - Groundhog Day - a survivor of that belief. Though we recognize animal behavior isn’t always the way to judge planting dates, the tradition continues.

Tomorrow is groundhog day and it is always good policy to never grab a groundhog.