February Days

The first three days of February all get a special mention in Chambers Book of Days.

The 1st of the month is Imbolc (pronounced imulk) marking the beginning of spring in the Celtic calendar. It's halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.
The word Imbolc may derive from old Irish meaning 'in the belly' referring to the pregnancy of the ewes and the beginning of lambing. The celebration  was presided over by the Goddess of youth and fertility -Bride later merging with Bridgid (or Bridget), one of Irelands saints but also known in England and Scotland. There are still churches dedicated to St Bride but none in Suffolk. Brigid died on 1st February 525.

The 2nd is the Christian festival of Candlemas the popular name for the feast of the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin. Forty days after the birth of a baby, mothers had to go to the temple to be ritually cleansed . Churchgoers brought household candles for blessing to ward off evil in the home, something that was  banned after the reformation but happening in many churches again now. 

At one time the Christmas season didn't officially end until Candlemas and evergreen decorations were left up until the eve of Candlemas.

Down with the holly, ivy, all

Wherewith ye dressed the Christmas hall;

That so the superstitious find

Not one least branch left behind;

For look, how  many leaves there be

Neglected there, maids, trust to me,

So many goblins you shall see.

Robert Herrick, Hesperides, Ceremony upon Candlemas Eve (1648)

The 3rd of the month is the feast day of St Blaise, patron saint of wool-combers. He is said to have saved the life of a young boy who was choking on a fish bone then becoming the saint to ask for protection against throat ailments. The priest blessed two candles, tied them together to form a cross and held them against the throat of people suffering or wanting protection. He was yet another Christian tortured before being beheaded.

From The Illuminated Book of Days by Kay and Marshall Lee this is an illustration by Eugène Grasset an artist who produced posters etc in France during the second half of C19 

February has more weather folklore than any other month and even though it's the last month of winter, there could still be lots of bad weather to come.

In the barn on Candlemas Day should be half the straw and half the hay

When gnats dance in February, the husbandman becomes a beggar

A February spring is not worth a pin

Fogs in February mean frosts in May

If Candlemas day be cloudy and black

T'will carry cold winter away on its back;

But if Candlemas Day be fine and clear,

Then half the winter's  to come this year. 

A warm day in February is a dream of April

All the months of the year curse a fair Februeer

We will find out what weather February will bring in due course. I'm guessing mixed - it usually is, There is often a spell of much colder weather and sometimes snow. Although it doesn't really matter as  I won't be venturing very far again, just swimming, exercise group and  WI this month after the January break and the first of the three Rural Bygones sales at the auction yard.

Back Tomorrow

Sue

February 2nd Candlemas and Hazel Catkins

Today is Candlemas, commemorating the purification of Mary in the temple in Jerusalem, 40 days after the birth of Christ.

 If Candlemas day be fair and bright

Then winter will have another flight

If Candlemas day be clouds and rain

Winter is gone and will not come again

 In my book "Ceremonies of the Seasons" by Jennifer Cole is says that in churches today the priest blesses the candles that will be used in the church through the year. This is the only place I've read this and need to know if it's correct as I'm not a church goer (Church of England or Catholic) and this isn't something that happens in Baptist or Methodist Churches - as far as I know.

 

 The Flower Fairies are back ............a harbinger of spring or just a photo of late winter?

 

 

 

 Here she is, the Hazel-Catkin Fairy from Cicely Mary Barker's 'Flower Fairies of The Winter'. Originally published in the 1920s.

I like that last line "One day the land shall leap to life".............soon I hope - in so many ways.

Back Tomorrow

Sue

 

St Clement's day 23rd November

St. Clement Gives the Winter

 

The direction of the wind at Midnight on St Clement's Day forecast the conditions that will prevail until Candlemas

 Clement of Rome was the 3rd Pope after St Peter. In the year 95 St Clement wrote a letter begging the Christians in Corinth to show mutual tolerance and love and to respect those set in authority. Peace must be the aim of all who follow Jesus, he said.

 

This is the page from my book A Calendar of Saints 

 

Of course one of the best known writings that gives St Clement a mention is the children's rhyme

Oranges and lemons, 

Say the bells of St. Clement’s.

You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin’s.

When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.

When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.

I do not know,
Says the great bell of Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!

 When I looked up the origins of this nursery rhyme I found the directions for the playground game. This is where two children form an arch and the rest go through until the "chop off your head" bit. But what I'd completely forgotten was that the two children in the arch secretly decide which of them is oranges and which is lemons and when someone has their head chopped off they whisper their choice of "oranges" or "lemons" and then stand behind whichever child in the arch. - Yes we did that - simple pleasures!

 

In another of my books "Cattern Cakes and Lace" by Julia Jones is this recipe..........

 

I have to say it does sound very good,

 

There's much more about St Clement on Wiki HERE

 

 

Back Tomorrow

Sue

February Days

Another book with illustrations to use for the beginning of the month posts. It's a children's book with the Sara Coleridge poem and once belonged to Youngest daughter, it's now gone back to her for Florence.

 Each month there is a flap to lift to see what the mouse family are doing.

February can bring any sort of weather but is often cold around the third week

Double faced February

There is always one fine week in February 


Two old weather sayings for Candlemas (yesterday)............. seem to contradict each other, take your pick!

  If Candlemas Day be fair and bright

Winter will take another flight

If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain

Winter is gone and will not come again.


If Candlemas day be fair and fine
Half the winter is left behind;
If Candlemas day be dull and gloom,
Half the winter is still to come.

Beware of a mild February......

A February spring is not worth a pin

 

In the past the full moon in February (on the 9th) was called the Snow Moon, Ice Moon or Storm Moon, emphasizing the fact that February is still a winter month which is why farmers through time have always been told........

In the barn on Candlemas Day 

                                                Should be half the straw and half the hay



Day length increases by 1hour and 48 minutes during this month..............thank goodness.

The Anglo-Saxons called February 'Solmonarth' which means flat-cake month. Cakes would be made as offerings to the gods in thanks of the lengthening daylight.

I like this saying I found

A warm day in February is a dream of April

Back Tomorrow

Sue 

Ist February ....Imbolc and tomorrow the 2nd........ Candlemas

Imbolc (pronounced imulk) was a Gaelic festival promising the change from winter to spring. Halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox celebrating  a stirring of life after winter and fertility at the beginning of the season.
The word Imbolc may derive from old Irish meaning 'in the belly' referring to the pregnancy of the ewes and the beginning of lambing. The celebration  was presided over by the Goddess of youth and fertility -Bride

Later came the Christian festival of Candlemas the popular name for the feast of the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin. Forty days after the birth of a baby mothers had to go to the temple to be ritually cleansed.

Both celebrated with the lighting of candles and fires. People would visit holy wells and ask for good health and water would be taken to bless the home and family.

Below is a February page from The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady

 February has more weather folklore than any other month and even though it's the last month of winter, there could still be lots of bad weather to come

In the barn on Candlemas Day should be half the straw and half the hay

When gnats dance in February, the husbandman becomes a beggar

A February spring is not worth a pin

Fogs in February mean frosts in May

If Candlemas day be cloudy and black

T'will carry cold winter away on its back;

But if Candlemas Day be fine and clear,

Then half the winter's  to come this year.

Which will be correct this year? - If any!

I'm not keen on January but February is usually a bit more hopeful and although only 3 days shorter than January it seems to go more quickly. There are often some good days although snow is just as likely, but the sunny days can have a touch of spring about them. It's also the time I get started with some seed sowing.........indoors only - needs to be much warmer for me to venture into the greenhouse.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

Snowdrops.............

....................or to give them their Latin name Galanthus.

Originally a native of alpine areas of Europe and Asia, it was considered to be a holy plant, a symbol of chastity and purity. According to my little book of plant folklore Snowdrops should only be brought into the house with a 'white purification' ceremony otherwise it's unlucky to have them indoors.

Brother, Joy to you

I've brought some snowdrops; only just a few,

But quite enough to prove the world awake,

Cheerful and hopeful in the frosty dew

And for the pale sun's sake.

Christina Rosetti

The first little clump have appeared in the garden but the ones across the lane are only just showing

Historically they were called "Fair maid of February" or "Candlemas Bells" but now usually appear long before February 2nd.

 I've got a few of the little books of Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker but not the one with Snowdrops, so this is borrowed from on line images, it was on a blog called Inkspired Musings which is no longer being used.





 It would be good to make an effort/be brave enough on my own, to get to the National Trust Anglesey Abbey which is along the A14 just into Cambridgeshire, they have a collection of dozens of different species of Snowdrops.Their snowdrop gardens are open from mid January, I've made a note.

Back Soon
Sue

Galanthus......

More usually known as Snowdrops

It's a very good year for snowdrops, we didn't know how many there would be here but seems there are several clumps on the other side of the lane and a few on the house side too.

The word Galanthus is derived from the Greek words gala (milk) and anthos (flower). It has always been a symbol of purity and hope and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was often called Candlemas bell. It was considered unlucky to bring them into the house before Candlemas.

I looked on the National Gardens Scheme website and there are gardens open all over the country on Snowdrop days which are mainly in the middle of February. Plus the National Trust have woods full of snowdrops at many of the houses they own.

Not quite enough for an Open Gardens event!!

Snowdrops don't grow very well from bulbs and it's better to buy them "in the green" - a small  pot-full in flower will soon spread when planted out.

It seems that many poets have waxed lyrical about the Snowdrop, The Famous

 and William Wordsworth

TO A SNOWDROP

          LONE Flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they
          But hardier far, once more I see thee bend
          Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend,
          Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day,
          Storms, sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay
          The rising sun, and on the plains descend;
          Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend
          Whose zeal outruns his promise! Blue-eyed May
          Shall soon behold this border thickly set
          With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing                
          On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;
          Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,
          Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,
          And pensive monitor of fleeting years!

 And the not so famous.............. this was in a children's poetry book

SNOWDROPS

I like to think 

That, long ago

There fell to earth

Some flakes of snow

Which loved this cold,

Grey world of ours

So much, they stayed 

As snowdrop flowers

By Mary Vivian

  Back Soon
Sue

February Days

Here is a February page from Edith Holden's book 'Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady'. Wish I could draw and paint........(sigh).............

February 1st .......... Imbolc (pronounced imulk) - The ancient Celtic feast day held to celebrate a stirring of life after winter and fertility at the beginning of the lambing season. The word Imbolc may derive from old Irish meaning 'in the belly'. The celebration  was presided over by the Goddess of youth and fertility -Bride

February 2nd .......Candlemas, the popular name for the feast of the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin. The Catholic Church chose this date as it coincided with Imbolc, they renamed Bride as St Bridget.

An old weather saying for February.............

 If Candlemas Day be fair and bright

Winter will take another flight

If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain

Winter is gone and will not come again. 

Beware of a mild February......

A February spring is not worth a pin

Winter hasn't gone in February which is why farmers through time have always been told........

In the barn on Candlemas Day 

Should be half the straw and half the hay 

From Sara Coleridge's poem 'Months of the Year'........

February brings the rain 

Thaws the frozen Lake Again 

  

Then of course there is Shrove Tuesday on the 13th and Valentines  Day on the 14th, more about those later

 I'm glad February is a short month because I'm always itching to get out and start gardening but it's usually too wet, although I will start some things in the propagator  and do the "carrying in at night and out to the conservatory in the day" thing until the weather warms up enough.

Thank you to everyone for comments yesterday, I was able to do the round up of spending on the last day of the month because I knew I wasn't going anywhere yesterday, so no more spending and I like to do the Folklore page on the first of the month.


Back Tomorrow
Sue