Ah, Groundhog day, that loopiest of all American observances, dating back to 1886 or 1887. While I am doubtful of the predictive powers of a woodchuck’s shadow, (Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, indicating an early spring according to Groundhog Day lore.) who couldn’t hold in high esteem a species that has bitten some nosey politicians on earlier Groundhog Days?
Far more significant than Punxsutaney Phil, today is Candlemas, also the Feast of the Presentation and the Purification of Mary. Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Mary followed the Jewish law of purification. It is at this time that Simeon made his prophecy as he held the Baby Jesus.
As this is my dad’s birthday, gone now for 22 years, and the close of the Christmas season ( in Catholic countries) I’ll dig up the poem from the St. John Cantius website and post it later, to say goodbye to another Christmas. Candlemas Mass tonight will have a procession with lit candles, as was done in years past.
And one of the best movies ever made.
In Scotland, we have a number of old rhymes similar to the Groundhog Day legend
1) If Candlemas day be dry and fair,
The half o’ winter ‘s to come and mair,
If Candlemas day be wet and foul,
The half of winter’s gane at Yule.
2 )If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There’ll be twa winters in the year.
3) If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.
Candlemas Day here was bright and sunny. How much of an impact does that have on the rest of winter? None. We are but four days away from the midpoint of winter.
From the St. John Cantius website:
Time After Epiphany
The season of Time after Epiphany is more a season set up for liturgical reasons than spiritual ones, as it is spiritually a continuation of Christmas’s devotion to the Divine Childhood. Because the date of Easter changes each year, two seasons have variable lengths in order to balance the calendar. The Season of Time After Pentecost can have as few as 23 Sundays or as many as 28 Sundays depending on the date of Easter. This season can have anywhere from 4 to 38 days, depending on the date of Easter. If this season is short, then Time after Pentecost will be longer; and if this Season is long, Time after Pentecost will be shorter.
But the spiritual focus of the Season up until Candlemas is the continuation of Christmas and contemplation of the Divine Childhood. After Candlemas, the celebration of events of His young life gives way to a focus on His adult life.
Ceremony Upon Candlemas Eve
Down with the rosemary, and so
Down with the bays and misletoe;
Down with the holly, ivy, all,
Wherewith ye dress’d the Christmas Hall :
That so the superstitious find
No one least branch there left behind :
For look, how many leaves there be
Neglected, there (maids, trust to me)
So many goblins you shall see.
I Am Christmas
Here have I dwelled with more or lass
From Hallowtide till Candelmas,
And now must I from you hens pass;
Now have good day.
I take my leve of king and knight,
And erl, baron, and lady bright;
To wilderness I must me dight;
Now have good day!
And at the good lord of this hall
I take my leve, and of gestes all;
Me think I here Lent doth call;
Now have good day!
And at every worthy officere,
Marshall, panter, and butlere
I take my leve as for this yere;
Now have good day!
Another yere I trust I shall
Make mery in this hall,
If rest and peace in England fall;
Now have good day!
But oftentimes I have herd say
That he is loth to part away
That often biddeth ‘Have good day!”;
Now have good day!
Now fare ye well, all in fere,
Now fare ye well for all this yere;
Yet for my sake make ye good chere;
Now have good day!
And thus, we say goodbye to another Christmas season.
My neighbor farms a peach/apple orchard and recruited me to bow hunt the many woodchucks there. I was amazed to watch them climb up peach trees and pluck the peaches.
The Fourth Joyful Mystery, The Presentation. Desire the spirit of sacrifice. Think of Mary’s obedience to the Law of God in presenting the infant Jesus in the temple.
DonL: I heard that woodchucks taste good. True? Most hunters hunt them with rifles. The youngest son arrowed a six point buck this Fall.
No mention of the great NYC groundhog cover-up scandal?
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Anyone remember how Mayor Bill De Blasio dropped the groundhog a couple of years ago and the death was hidden for months? Oh the shame!
T. Shaw; yup they taste good, dark meat, Barb “Q” sauce, but….if you eat them, spring never comes, so a word of caution there.
What a thrill for your son.