MYTHIC MONDAY: BRIGHID, BEARS, AND GROUNDHOGSHow soon can we pack away our winter coats and blankets and not worry about remembering to let the faucet drip or the specter of busted pipes? After a long, dark, icy January, it’s natural to wonder when winter will end and when balmier breezes will replace the ole blue norther. Although spring is still over six weeks away, by February people yearn for more moderate temperatures and the return of the light. We look to nature for hints and a forecast about what’s in store for us.Groundhog Day in America honors this annual preoccupation with the end of winter, and we call upon Punxsutawney Phil, the famous weather-predicting groundhog. On February 2nd of each year, we observe Phil’s actions to see if winter will continue for another six weeks or if we will be blessed with warmth. The ritual originates from the idea that groundhogs and other hibernating animals instinctively know whether or not there will be an early spring. If Phil emerges and it’s a sunny day so that he can see his shadow, six more weeks of bad weather is in the stars, and Phil will continue hibernating. If it’s cloudy and Phil’s shadow is not visible, spring is just around the corner and Jack Frost is headed out of town.
By Supherman at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsThe Punxsutawney Phil tradition as we know it began in Pennsylvania in 1886. However, documents indicate that Pennsylvania Germans honored the custom as far back as the mid 18th century. In other places in the world, the animal observed is a badger or bear. In Russia it is the latter.The idea of looking to Mother Nature for divination into her intentions about winter extends far back in time. On the February 1st pagan holiday of Imbolc, the ancient Celts in Ireland observed serpents or badgers to see if they emerged from their winter dens. Imbolc, which means “ewe’s milk,” was the day that the Cailleach or divine crone gathered her firewood for the rest of winter. If she wanted winter to last longer, she would make the day sunny in order to gather a plentiful amount of firewood. Folks, therefore, breathed a sigh of relief if the weather turned out to be dank and dreary on Imbolc because it meant the Cailleach was sleeping and winter almost over. The youthful, maidenly form of the Cailleach was the beloved Celtic goddess Brede, also known as Bride, Brighid, and Bridgit. She tended the hearth fires, and her nurturing power was the key to opening the seed of the world to spring and all the fertility and bounty to come.Scholars say that Brede morphed into St. Bridgit and the Christian feast of Candlemas superseded Imbolc. St. Bridget is known as a highly revered early Irish Christian nun, also an abbess and founder of the famous nunnery of Kildare in Ireland.
Judging by my weather today, Phil had it right yesterday *sigh* It’s been snowing all night and is still coming down with a prediction of 6-9″ before it ends. This has been a nasty winter so far. I could use some of that early spring.
An interesting look at weather divination through the years, Flossie. Today I’m going to take Phil’s advice and hibernate inside!
Ooh, Brigid has been my ‘guide’ for the past couple of years, coinciding with the births of my daughters! This is a very interesting post Flossie, I always did wonder where Groundhog Day came from.
Judging by my weather today, Phil had it right yesterday *sigh* It’s been snowing all night and is still coming down with a prediction of 6-9″ before it ends. This has been a nasty winter so far. I could use some of that early spring.
An interesting look at weather divination through the years, Flossie. Today I’m going to take Phil’s advice and hibernate inside!
This has been a crazy winter, from 20s one week to 80 the next week. With the snow you’re having, hiberation sounds reasonable.
Ooh, Brigid has been my ‘guide’ for the past couple of years, coinciding with the births of my daughters! This is a very interesting post Flossie, I always did wonder where Groundhog Day came from.