Friday, March 29, AD 2024 3:43am

It’s Groundhog Day!

 

 

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, who couldn’t hold in high esteem a species that has bitten some nosey politicians on earlier Groundhog Days?

 

 

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Michael Paterson-Seymour
Michael Paterson-Seymour
Thursday, February 2, AD 2017 7:57am

We do not have Groundhog Day in Scotland – No Groundhogs!

However, we do have the following rhyme for Candlemas Day (One of the four quarter-days or term-days, along with Whitsunday, Lammas and Martinmas)

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.

Also,

If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There’ll be twa winters in the year.

pengiuns fan
pengiuns fan
Thursday, February 2, AD 2017 2:20pm

Punxsutawney is barely two hours away from the humble abode of the Penguins Fan Family. I have not been there for the silliness of watching a groundhog come out of a hole. Maybe one day before I am too old to care.
February 2 is my late dad’s birthday. He would be 80 today. He has been gone for almost 23 years and did not live to see his grandchildren. My dad loved little kids.
February 2 is also the Purification of Mary, or Candlemas. Christmas was 40 days ago and today is the last day of Christmastide. We keep our Nativity set out until today. Later today I will post the poem from the St. John Cantius site, “I am Christmas”, which is fitting for this day.

Penguins Fan
Penguins Fan
Thursday, February 2, AD 2017 4:04pm

As indicated above:

In Poland, the candles brought from home to be blessed are decorated with symbols and ribbons. There, the custom is to let a blessed candle burn all night tonight before an icon of Our Lady who, when the world still had forests, was relied upon to keep the wolves away during these cold nights. Now, our “wolves” tend to be of a different sort, but the pious burning of a blessed candle tonight, with prayers offered to Our Lady, still might help keep them at bay. This tradition gives Candlemas its Polish name—“Matka Boska Gromniczna,” or “Mother of God of the Blessed Thunder Candle.”

In any case, when Candlemas is finished, all feelings of Christmas give way to the penitential feelings of Septuagesima and then Lent. The English poet, Robert Herrick (A.D. 1591-1674), sums it up in his poem “Ceremony Upon Candlemas Eve”—and reveals a folktale in the process:

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.

This very ancient carol also speaks of the departure of Christmas on this day. It is called “I Am Christmas,” and was written by James Ryman, a Franciscan Friar, ca. 1492. Note that the reference to Hallowtide (the days of the dead centering around All Saints Day) here refers to the fact that it was during Hallowtide that monarchs used to announce where they would be spending Christmas.

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!

Discover more from The American Catholic

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Scroll to Top