Candles were blessed in church services and then carried around the parish, their light symbolising Christ lighting the way for his followers and harking back to Simeon's words, when he blessed the Christ child and his parents in the temple, recorded in the Gospel of Luke about Christ being "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel". An old English song contained the lyrics: If Candlemas be fair and bright, If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Winter will not come again." Both rhymes mean that if it is nice on Candlemas Day you can expect six more weeks of yucky, winter weather, if it isn't nice on Candlemas Day, the weather should get nicer. Due to the poor weather at Read more. Some of the best insights into the history of families and communities in this province can be garnered from the pages of the hundreds of diaries that have been deposited into archives in the province. And if this saying is true, there's hope for that. If Candlemas Day be fair and bright Winter will have another fight. (Will Morgan/WHAM) Rochester, N.Y. Our Bright Spot shines on The Children's Business Fair hosted by First American Equipment Finance on Friday. Here in southern B.C., we usually experience only a few days of snow, but this year it lasted over a month. If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, winter, have another flight; If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go winter, and come not again. If Candlemas Day be dry and fair, The half o the winter's to come and mair; If Candlemas Day be wet and foul, The half o the winter's gane at Yule. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. If we have inadvertently included a copyrighted poem that the copyright holder does not wish to be displayed, we will take the poem down within 48 hours upon notification by the owner or the owner's legal representative (please use the contact form at http://www.poetrynook.com/contact or email "admin [at] poetrynook [dot] com"). Then there was a procession in which people carried lighted candles while the choir sang. It's almost Groundhog Day! And that gives us title number five for the 2ndFebruary. For this meeting between Simeon and Jesus in the Temple is a pivotal moment in the story of our redemption for this is the moment at which the long awaited Messiah is proclaimed to be a Light not just for Gods chosen people the Jews, but forallpeople. What Eucharistic miracle inspired the Feast of Corpus Christi? Candlemas: History, Traditions and Crepes! - Building Faith candles should be made of beeswax. As decades of repeated stories tell, if the famous Punxsutawney groundhog ("Phil") sees its shadow on the second of February, there will be six more weeks of winter; if not, there will be an early spring. While the same principle applied to Groundhog Day . That's thanks in large part to the popularity of the eponymous movie and the ability to live-stream the festivities. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus the Word made flesh. Plus, if it is sunny out, marmots are theoretically big enough to cast a shadow by standing up. The ceremony of Candlemas Day, a ritual celebratedthroughout the Christian world that Mr. Morris observed was the blessing of the annual supply of the Churchs candles. This was the first time it lit up this year, fitting then that its Groundhog Day (wiki), Candlemas (wiki) and Imbolc (wiki). Translation: Language: English Tags: Short Poems Rate this poem: Report SPAM Log in or register to post comments 'If Candlemas Day be fair and bright Winter will have another fight. The name woodchuck is native to America. Nowadays any Christmas decorations not taken down by Twelfth Night (January 5th) should be left up until Candlemas Day and then taken down. It may also have been celebrated with the If its windy and wet or snowy then winter is coming to an end, so he emerges because spring is round the corner. Many parts of the U.S. and Canada now have their own beloved animal prognosticators, with some of Phil's better-known contemporaries including New York's "Staten Island Chuck" (aka Charles G. Hogg) and Ontario's "Wiarton Willie.". The story of our redemption unfolds. If Candlemas Day be fair and bright disaster and let's face it, given the frequency of severe storms in February, this is They immediately return for another sleep if it is sunny on 2 February because they know the winter will continue. And their firstborn Son was presented in the Temple to God. It appears that the practice of blessing candles was frowned upon after the Reformation, with Archbishop Thomas Cranmer writing to Bishop Bonner on 27th January 1548 informing him that the Lord Protector has decided "that no candles should be borne upon Candlemas Day, nor also from henceforth ashes or palms used any longer." The sun is nice today; Id like more of that, please, Im ready to laze in the hot place with a book. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Latin Mass Society - Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One tradition associated with Candlemas is the idea that the weather on Candlemas Day is a predictor of whether winter is nearly over: If Candlemas be fair and bright,Come winter, have another flight;If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,Go winter, and come not again. We must be the beacon that guides others to Christ. "So I sort of see the ability to, if you're fortunate enough to have a groundhog living in your backyard, to sort of pay attention to it and enjoy it and learn from it and maybe give up some of your tomatoes or apples.". What a beautiful picture for my mind. So the Presentation is a proclamation of Christ Messiah and Priest, Lord and Savior. which was celebrated in pre-Christian Europe (and In both heathen and Christian calendars it is a day for lighting candles and celebrating the return of the light. If Candlemas day be shower and rain, Winter is gone and will not come again. Its a day when we think about the weather. We leave you with some facts and a question. This Candlemas (2nd of February) post was originally published in 2014. (One could say it's almost like the 1993 comedy "Groundhog Day" or even exactly like that.). This section is in advanced English and is only intended to be a guide, not to If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, winter . Also, Joseph and Mary were obliged by the Torah to redeem their first born son: The Lord spoke to Moses and said, Consecrate to me every first-born that opens the womb among the Israelites, both of man and beast, for it belongs to me (Ex 13:1). There was only one Temple for the Jews and it was in Jerusalem, not. (Traditional). How did the U.S. end up celebrating Groundhog Day in the first place? The groundhog arguably the most famous member of his species and the most recognizable of all the country's animal prognosticators did what he has done for the last 137 years: search for a sign of spring in front of a group of top hat-wearing handlers and adoring fans at Gobbler's Knob in Pennsylvania. After the 40 days, the mother and the father came to the temple for the rite of purification, which included the offering of a sacrifice a lamb for a holocaust (burnt offering) and a pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering, or for a poor couple who could not afford a lamb, two pigeons or two turtledoves. Ronald Hutton, in The Stations of the Sun, writes of how in the 15th and early 16th centuries the craft guilds of Aberdeen "provided pageants to accompany their members through the streets with their candles" and that some towns and cities held municipal feasts and put on entertainment. from winter hibernation to inspect the weather as well as wolves, How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent. If Candlemas Day be sunny and bright | Archival Moments just before sunset? Crowds as large as 30,000 have turned out to Punxsutawney for multi-day Groundhog Day festivities, which the state calls a significant tourism boost for the town of fewer than 6,000 people. States and Canada, Candlemas On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop, You can be sure of a good pea crop. The expression calls on families, now that we are half way through winter, to take stock of their (prog) food supplies in their root cellars and feed for the animals (hay). The first Gobbler's Knob ceremony took place the next year, and the rest is history. And that tradition of processing with candles on this day is a very old one. April 27 Can Henry VIII abandon Anne Boleyn? It was sunny and bright, though it offered only a vague warmth today. "And what we're finding is there's sort of an optimal period that you should be active. "I hope that people have some greater appreciation of marmots and nature, and I hope that people have a chuckle over the idea that it's the middle of the winter and we're hoping that a rodent will tell us what the future is," says Blumstein. These cookies do not store any personal information. If Candlemas Day be fair and bright Winter will have another fight. Though it incorrectly states that Jesus waa presented at the temple in Bethlehem. Saint Sophronius was a bishop of Jerusalem in the early 7thcentury. If Candlemas be cloud and snow, Winter will be gone and not come again. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. The real story behind Groundhog Day - Inhabitat In the diaries of Edward Morris,Mr. Morris observed on, The Sale of Obscene Pencils in Chance Cove, World Photo Day and Newfoundland and Labrador Collections, Lady Day Fish; August 15th in Newfoundland. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When the Lord comes, may you go out to meet Him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Theyre a more intimate space than the blog. / If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, / Go, Winter, and come not again." So if the bright sun "overshadows" the brightness of Candlemas Day, there will be more winter. If Candlemas Day is clear and bright - Ailish Sinclair the birth and nursing of the spring lambs as a sign of the first stirrings (Fox version) If Candlemas day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight. Fine morning, light frost, wind from the north, north west. (Anonymous Scottish poem) Its a special day, and it has five different titles how many can you name? not entirely without sense. I heard it from my bed half a mile away. An oliphaunt fallen. "There's the instincts and the intuition and the imagination that every human being has that has to come into balance with logic and reason.". A traditional Candlemas poem goes: If Candlemas be fair and. And Candlemas Day Thank you for such an image in my imagination. Candlemas commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son Jesus. However, if the light of Candlemas Day radiates through the gloom and darkness of the day, the end of winter is near. This redemption was a kind of payment for the Passover sacrifice, by which the Jews had been freed from slavery. It made me think about the passage and circle of time, of the constancy of the land on which we live and the transient nature of human life. So Im starting this morning witha quiz question for you. Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, is celebrated on 2nd February. It dates back to ancient traditions first pagan, then Christian marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, says Troy Harman, a history professor at Penn State University who also works as a ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park. What is Candlemas Day? - Catholic Straight Answers A sort of Catch 22 situation. February 2nd: Groundhog Day or Candlemas? - Building Faith Since ancient times, a procession of lit candles has observed the day, whence the name Candlemas, and the observance comes from Scripture deeming Christ as "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.". Simeon, a just and pious man, who awaited the Messiah and looked for the consolation of Israel, was inspired to come to the temple. A rhyme called "Ceremony upon Candlemas Eve" by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674) If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight; If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go Winter, and come not again. All have the same theme: sunny and cold is bad news, windy and wet is good. If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, Winter won't come again. As you can read, there is no mention of an animal of any kind in the preceding song. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord! Great article! Imbolc Customs & Lore - Circle Sanctuary "If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter has another flight. 4, Rare and Amusing Insults: Cockalorum, Snollygoster, and More, 'Couple,' 'Few,' and 'Several': The (Mostly) Definitive Guide. If she forgets to do this or oversleeps the weather is wet and windy, thus bringing winter to a rapid end because of her lack of firewood. Beeswax candles were blessed by being sprinkled with holy water and having incense swung around them, and then the candles distributed to everyone in the church. It is rather like a portal to another country, a warmer clime or different season. Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2nd and dictates that if a groundhog emerges from hibernation to see its shadow, and retreats, six more weeks of winter are ahead. The males typically come out first and then begin looking for females with whom to mate. If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight. No matter how much things may change, some things remain the same! Today is Candlemas, when, according to folklore, the weather is supposed to predict the conditions for the rest of the winter: If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight, But It was a campsite halfway between the Allegheny and the Susquehanna Rivers. In fact, the feast of the Presentation of Jesus thats title number three counting Christmas Day as day one, is kept 40 days after Christmas as it has been since the 4thcentury. According to folklore then, the worst of the winter is over. Go hereto sign up for occasional emails that always include some exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. Accordingly, no appearance of a shadow means, inexplicably, an early spring, which the squirrelly rodent uncannily has promised because it wasn't frightened by a shadowbut, according to historical records, don't put away the snow shovels too soon. However, St. Luke in the Gospel does not mention this redemption, but rather the presentation of Our Lord: When the day came to purify them according to the law of Moses, the couple brought Him up to Jerusalem, so that He could be presented to the Lord, for it is written in the law of the Lord, Every first-born male shall be consecrated to the Lord (Lk 2:22-23). be taken too seriously! Its nice to think of it being warm elsewhere. Simple Preparations for Candlemas - Meagan Rose Wilson Something shared (winter) on a completely different note, considering I live in Mexico. He moved to St Johns, Newfoundland in 1832. Copyright 2023 NPR. More good reminders: brave little snowdrops. If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, winter won't come again", is perhaps the best known. set sail on Candlemas Day, believing that any voyage begun then will end in Photograph: Steve & Ann Toon/Robert Harding World Imagery/Corbis. Even before our friends the groundhogs got involved, Candlemas was associated with predicting when spring would come. Bright Spot: Children's Business Fair | WHAM If Candlemas day be shower and rain, Winter is gone and will not come again. Candlemas - The Tudor Society Statistics say not so much: Phil's accuracy rate is about 40% over the last decade. It became more widely celebrated from 542 AD when the emperor Justinian ordered its observance at Constantinople,the capital of the Christian Byzantine Empire, as a thanksgiving for the end of a plague. A light for me, a light for you. That is still true in the Church today, but most of us have put Christmas behind us long before Candlemas. The feast later spread to the Western church, but as a feast of Mary rather than of Jesus, because Mary needed to go to the Temple to be purified. While some people consider groundhogs a nuisance because they like to snack on garden produce, he thinks living with urban and suburban wildlife is a good thing as it brings people closer to nature. If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter has another flight. the West, the date of Christmas is now fixed at December 25, and Candlemas Bloggy blogs all on ailishsinclair.com, The Dule Tree at Leith Hall is one of the best kno, MERMAID: witchcraft, a stone circle, a castle and. The Messiah that had been promised to Gods people for so long is now born as one of us. This day also marks the ritual presentation of the baby Jesus to God in the Temple at Jerusalem. Note Joseph and Mary made the offering of the poor (Lk 2:24). So he's able to confirm that while Groundhog Day is pegged to Candlemas, it also coincides with the time of year when groundhogs in the northeastern U.S. start to emerge. The wax was allowed to drip on the head (hat) and shoulders and on the shoes of the children. If Candlemas Day be weet and foul, half the winter wis ower at Yule! For 40 days for a boy, and 60 days for a girl, women weren't allowed to worship in the temple. Despite lack of badgers this tradition crossed the Atlantic and became Groundhog Day. therefore falls on the following February 2. Those are the words of an old English poem which helped inspire a tradition that takes place here in the U.S. every Feb. 2, dating back to 1887. It's believed that if there's bright weather on Candlemas there would be more bad weather to come (just like the Cailleach). But if it be dark with clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again. Some people believe that the Celtic Sabbat of Imbolc, But that alone doesn't make them reliable forecasters. Another tradition holds that anyone who hears funeral bells tolling on Candlemas Double click on any word for its definition. On the eighth day, the boy was circumcised. One goose, two geese. Poem: If Candlemas Day be fair and bright by Anonymous - PoetryNook.Com Jesus brings light to show us the way ahead. February 2 is Candlemas Day Blessing of the candles that are used during the year. From the Archives What did Tudor people sound like? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The mother continued to stay at home for 33 days for her blood to be purified. A light for all people, in all ages, in all places, no matter who they are. After the ceremony women were allowed to take part in religious services again. God has sent his Son to bring light where there was darkness. An old English song goes: If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come winter, have another flight; If Candlemas bring clouds and rain, Go winter, and come not again. "If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another fight. It is amusing that our issues back on February 2, 1871 are much the same. The continual rain, mud and roof leakages have made the season seem long and arduous. Forty days after His birth, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for the rites of purification and dedication as prescribed by the Torah. If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight; If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go Winter, and come not again. No enchanted snowy moonlit walks where surprised owls fly low overhead, no snow angels or sledging. How Candelmas Day Turned Into Groundhog Day - Escalon Times All rights reserved. Winter won't come again. Poems taught young people the importance of the holiday as a forecasting tool. Still, he says there's a lot humans can learn from groundhogs' behavior. An oliphaunt fallen. For this reason, traditionally at least since the seventh century, candles have been blessed at Mass this day that will be used throughout the year, hence coining the term Candlemas.. The Celtic tradition of Imbolc, which involves lighting candles at the start of February, goes as far back as the 10th century A.D. Phil did not see his shadow. And his light is for all. Candlemas, given its occurrence in the beginning of February, also became a day on which people would prognosticate the arrival of spring according to its sunny or cloudy skies, as the lyrics of one old English song goes, "If Candlemas be fair and bright, / Come, Winter, have another flight; / If Candlemas bring clouds and rain, / Go, Winter, and If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, If Candlemas's day be wet and foul. Tick them off as we go through the sermon. Some people thought that they provided protection against . My mum came out with the Doric version yesterday, one day I dont think I would mind snow! Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. An old English song went as follows: If Candlemas be fair and bright, / Come, Winter, have another flight. A light for each of us, a light for every one of us. People believed that Candlemas predicted the weather for the rest of the winter. And usually at St Johns, like many churches around the world, we mark this day with a procession around the church with candles. This Tuesday is February 2nd. And there are more furry forecasters out there too. The Christian church later expanded this idea into the festival of Candlemas, which commemorates the moment when the Virgin Mary went to the Temple in Jerusalem 40 days after Jesus' birth to be purified and present him to God as her firstborn. Our Autumn/Spring will begin soon , Ive nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award : But how accurate is Punxsutawney Phil? For in the Christian Church this event in the life of the Holy Family was first celebrated regularly from about 350 AD in Jerusalem. The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus was met by Anna and Simeon. Three loud cracks sounded as its branches broke. 26 April Catherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn, marries Francis Knollys, Tudor and Renaissance Artists and Composers. Yes February 2ndis, of course, Groundhog Day! Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. This tradition may have European roots and coincides with the Christian holiday of Candlemas, which was about the purification of the Virgin Mary, but also used to indicate the first signs of spring. The verb to present (paristanai) also means to offer, which evokes Jesus being presented as the priest who will offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice to free us from the slavery of sin, seal the new and eternal covenant with His blood, and open the gates to the true promised land of heaven. In summer it can reach unbearable temperatures. The festival is called Candlemas beacuse this was the day that all the Church's candles for the year were blessed. The day fine enough but the walking very rough.
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