2nd February - again!

19 years ago

Happy Imbolc, Happy St. brigid's day, Happy Candlemas, Happy Groundhog Day, Happy First Day of Spring to all at RP.

And just a reminder:-

"Evidence of how Imbolc was celebrated in Ireland derives from ancient Celtic manuscripts that mention the festival, and folklore collected during the 19th and early 20th century in rural Ireland and Scotland. This material is also compared with studies of similar customs in Scandinavia, and customs maintained up till the present day in the Celtic nations and the Irish and Scottish diasporas

Among agrarian peoples, the festival was traditionally associated with the onset of lactation of ewes, soon to give birth to the spring lambs. This could vary by as much as two weeks before or after the start of February.

In Irish, Imbolc means "in the belly" (i mbolg), referring to the pregnancy of ewes, and is also a Celtic term for spring. Another name is Oimelc, meaning "ewe's milk". Some Celts and Neopagans shorten the name to Brigid, referring to the Celtic goddess of healing, poetry and smithcraft, to whom the day is sacred.

That Imbolc was an important time to the ancient inhabitants of Ireland can be seen at a number of Megalithic and Neolithic sites, such as at the Loughcrew burial mounds and the Mound of the Hostages in Tara, Ireland. Here, the inner chamber of the passage tombs are perfectly aligned with the rising sun of both Imbolc and Samhain. Similar to the phenomena seen at Newgrange, the rising Imbolc sun shines down the long passageway and illuminates the inner chamber of the tomb

The holiday is a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring. Rituals often involve hearthfires, special foods, divination or simply watching for omens (whether performed in all seriousness or as children's games), a great deal of candles, and perhaps an outdoor bonfire if the weather permits.

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Comments (7)

veer
19 years ago
Thank you Jan, and may all your omens be propitiant.
Do you suppose the 2nd February and its Spring-like associations are a throwback to the old Julian Calendar which was eleven days ahead?
Although we have some sunshine today, and the days are getting a little longer, often the early (and late) part of the month can be cruelly cold.
And let us not forget St Adalbald of Ostrevant and the Martyrs of Edsdorf, who, you will all remember celebrate their feast days today. Listen carefully, they are even now, tuning up their heavenly harps.
martin_z
19 years ago
Blimey, is it Feb 2nd already? Seems like only a year since the last thread about it.....
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georgia_peach
19 years ago
Vee, attached is a link that explains the roots of Groundhog day.

Here in the South, our very own groundhog, General Beauregard Lee, predicts an early Spring, as does Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm ready for Spring, and we've had a mild winter so far where I live.

Here is a link that might be useful: European Roots of Groundhog Day
georgia_peach
19 years ago
I think I attached the wrong link. Anyway... I meant to link to the info that says this about the calendar:

"In Western world the official first day of Spring is about six weeks after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or 21. About 1,000 years ago, before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar when the date of the equinox drifted in the Julian calendar, the spring equinox fell on March 16 instead. This was exactly six weeks after February 2. Assuming that the equinox marked the first day of spring in certain medieval cultures, as it does now in western countries, Groundhog Day occurred exactly six weeks before spring. Therefore, if the groundhog saw his shadow on Groundhog Day there would be six more weeks of winter. If he didn't, there would be 42 more days of winter. In other words, the Groundhog Day/Hedgehog Day tradition may have begun as a bit of folk humor."
suzanne_il
19 years ago
Today is Dia de la Candelaria in Mexico. It's celebrated in this country by Mexican-Americans. On Jan. 6 families join together for a fiesta and break bread together. They serve a special sweetbread called Rosca de Reyes, which has small figurines baked inside. Whoever finds the figuirine in their slice of rosca must then host the dia de la candelaria fiesta on Feb. 2nd. The food of choice for that celebration is tamales. It is also the last official day of the Christmas season, when people dismantle their nativity set. Candles are taken to the church to be blessed.

Mardi gras celebrations feature a similar cake - the King Cake, which has a small baby Jesus figurine baked inside.
granjan
19 years ago
And tomorrow is the feast of St. Blaise. I think you have to be an old Catholic type to remember him. I'll bet he was one of those, like Christopher they got rid of. At the very least I bet they don't bless throats any more!

St. Blaise also known as
Biagio; Blase; Blasius
Memorial
3 February
Profile
Physician. Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia. Lived in a cave on Mount Argeus. Healer of men and animals; according to legend, sick animals would come to him on their own for help, but would never disturb him at prayer.

Agricola, governor of Cappadocia, came to Sebaste to persecute Christians. His huntsmen went into the forests of Argeus to find wild animals for the arena games, and found many waiting outside Blaise's cave. Discovered in prayer, Blaise was arrested, and Agricola tried to get him to recant his faith. While in prison, Blaise ministered to and healed fellow prisoners, including saving a child who was choking on a fish bone; this led to the blessing of throats on Blaise's feast day.

Thrown into a lake to drown, Blaise stood on the surface and invited his persecutors to walk out and prove the power of their gods; they drowned. When he returned to land, he was martyred by being beaten, his flesh torn with wool combs (which led to his association with and patronage of those involved in the wool trade), and then beheading.

Blaise has been extremely popular for centuries in both the Eastern and Western Churches. In 1222 the Council of Oxford prohibited servile labour in England on his feast.
pam53
19 years ago
Phil saw his shadow, BUT I am looking out my window at blowing and drifting snow. The coldest temps. in 10 yrs. are predicted here for next week.
I'm packing for my 6 a.m. flight to San Diego (babysitting DGD for 4 weeks). Yes, you read it correctly. I may not go to bed as I need quality time with the pups. My daughter said that unseasonably warm temps. are predicted for there next week-80 degrees... lucky me!
I just hope I can get out of our Rochester airport and JFK. I am bringing about a half-dozen books but know I will run out...also several knitting projects. Those things and baby gifts are packed but nothing else!

2nd February - again!

Comments (7)

veer

martin_z

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