The very first animal weather prognosticator may not have been a groundhog, a badger or even a hedgehog. It probably was a snake or a serpent. An old Scottish Gaelic proverb states:
Thig an nathair as an toll
Là donn Brìde,
Ged robh trì troighean dhen t-sneachd
Air leac an làir.
"The serpent will come from the hole
On the brown Day of Bride,
Though there should be three feet of snow
On the flat surface of the ground."
The first awakening of spring was critical to the survival of the ancients and February 2 was considered to be the day when the seeds of Spring first started to stir beneath the ground. The ancient Pagan Celtic Festival of St. Brighid (we now call it Groundhog Day and continue to observe on its traditional day of February 2) evolved from Candlemas which evolved from the old Pagan nature religion cross-quarter holiday of Imbolc. St. Brighid’s Day, Imbolc, Candlemas or Groundhog Day are celebrated at the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. .
There are several possible meanings for the word Imbolc. One of the most accepted meanings is "milking" (Ó Catháin, p. 7), but Imbolc could also come from the Celtic verb folcaim, "I wash" and relates to ritual purification at the time of the festival. This also relates to (spring) house cleaning, house blessing, and well blessing and purification which were traditionally performed at this time. Many Wiccan groups perform their initiation ceremonies at Imbolc.
“Another possible explanation is "in the belly" which may relate to the processions held around the fields, often seen as the body of Goddesses in which the grain and other crops would grow. This would also reflect the general association with rebirth of nature that was beginning at the time of Imbolc. (Berger, p. 70)
The Irish verb ”imbolgaid” means to blow a bellows. Blacksmithing was another aspect of the Celtic Goddess, Brighid, the goddess and saint often associated with Imbolc. One could visualize a ritual image of blowing the bellows to increase the fire that would warm the cold earth.”
Another old Scots custom may also derive from this poem by an unknown author:
''As the light grows longer''
''The cold grows stronger''
''If Candlemas be fair and bright''
''Winter will have another flight''
''If Candlemas be cloud and rain''
''Winter will be gone and not come again''
''A farmer should on Candlemas day''
''Have half his corn and half his hay''
''On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop''
''You can be sure of a good pea crop''
An even earlier Indo-European word is one that refers to the process of purification. February comes from the Latin “februare,” which means “to purify.” For the Romans, February was a time of cleansing and purification preparing for Spring and a new agricultural year. On February 15, Luperaclia was celebrated, honoring Faunus, the God of fertility. Roman priests of Faunus ran through the streets lashing young women with thongs called Februa to ensure fertility.
The early Christian Church attached itself to Imbolc customs, as it did with other ancient European Pagan customs. Christians renamed this day Candlemas, because of the tradition of blessing and lighting candles on this day. A common aspect of many pagan celebrations is a large fire for the purpose of purification and cleansing. Candlemas has become a day known as the Feast of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Weather prognostication became part of the church’s Candlemas imagery.
According to the old English saying:
"If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again."
From Scotland:
"If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be two winters in the year."
From Germany:
"For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until May.
For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day,
So far will the sun shine before May."
And from America:
"If the sun shines on Groundhog Day;
Half the fuel and half the hay."
Stay tune to this column for more information on the relationship between Imbolc, (Saint) Brighid’s Day, Candlemas and Groundhog Day.
To find out more about the history of this fascinating Pagan holiday:
1. Berger, Pamela (1985), The Goddess Obscured, Beacon Press.
2. Ó Catháin, Séamas (1995), The Festival of Brigit, DBA Publications.
3. Carmichael, Alexander (1900). Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations, Ortha Nan Gaidheal, Volume I, p. 169.
4. Yoder, Don (2003). Groundhog Day. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books.
5. K, Amber and Azrael Arynn (2001). Candlemas: Feast of Flames. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
6. Cohen, H.; Coffin, T.P. (1987). The Folklore of American Holidays. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research.
Comments