Candlemas (Lichtmess in German) is a day with many sayings attached to it. In Bavaria the farming year begins, the Christmas decorations come down, and forecasts for the coming season are made….
“If Candlemas Day is clear and bright, winter will have another bite. If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.”
Ist’s an Lichtmess hell und rein,
wird ein langer Winter sein.
Wenn es aber stürmt und schneit,
ist der Frühling nicht mehr weit.
Groundhog Day, famous in Pennsylvania for forecasting the onset of spring, was taken across the Atlantic by German immigrants.
Groundhog Day (Wikimedia Commons)
The original animal was a badger, and the saying was:
Wenn an Lichtmess der Dachs seinen Schatten sieht, geht er noch einmal für sechs Wochen in seinen Bau.
If the badger sees his shadow on Candlemas Day, he will return to his burrow for another six weeks.
(Apparently this is one of the most reliable weather proverbs!)
I somehow think Phil would not see his shadow here today… our snow melted within 24 hours on Wednesday, and since then we’ve had cloud, strong winds and rain. So hopefully “winter is gone and will not come again”!
What’s the weather like in your part of the world? If the sun is shining, beware – winter may yet return!
In Northern Germany it´s foggy and snow-rain-showers are announced. I think Winter will return within the next week. It´s only February
. I am going hiking this afternoon. Nice weekend! Uta
Have fun hiking – hope it’s dry for you!
Those proverbs can be full of truth. I didn’t believe that, but last year in Britain the old proverb about St Swithun’s Day proved its worth. It turned out that it’s about the Jet Stream. I wonder which meterological reality the Candlemas proverbs reflect.
In actual fact Wikipedia says this particular proverb is only accurate 30-40% of the time! There is no meteorological reality recorded, as this saying came from simple observations in Roman times and was probably perpetuated through superstition!
How interesting. I suppose people want to believe in something, especially n something to do with their food supply. You might also like this http://projectbritain.com/year/candlemas.html
Thanks! I’ve come across that site before – they have loads of interesting facts on seasonal celebrations.
I’m very much in favour in keeping with the old calendar of festivals. I’d not come across this particular set of weather predictions, so now I’ll squander a little more time and go and research the British equivalents. Thank you
If you’re interested in old weather proverbs, this site is interesting: http://www.ancientfolklore.co.uk/month3.htm
Have fun researching… I think there’s a lot of truth in many of these proverbs, even if they aren’t always that accurate!
It’s “la chandeleur” over here and we are going to be treated to crepes by friends – we need to take our minds off the dull, rainy weather over here.
Well, enjoy the crepes and let’s hope the bad weather bodes well – maybe spring is on the way? I shall read what Phil says in Pennsylvania later today!
Rain in the south east of Poland, I just wish it were true and the winter was over; unfortunately the 10 day forecast tells a different tale, Although it’s rarely correct for more than a day
Same here. But the meteorologists today are often no more accurate than the ancient proverbs!
Still waiting for sunrise, but it looks like a cold, clear morning…followed by more snow tonight. Not sure what’s going on in Pennsylvainia (for Phil) but our RI Rodent will his his shadow, most likely.
)
(It’s also my grandson’s birthday
Hope you can celebrate with your grandson. Sounds like your winter is already coming back!
Central Texas is fairly warm, clear days and the nights about 40 degress. Maybe a bit warmer. No rain in sight.
That’s nice and mild. I wonder if your spring is on the way…
A sunny day in central North Carolina, clear blue sky, but cold again 27F (-2.7C). Some folks around here use the wooly worm to forecast winter.
Thanks Susie – that’s interesting! Has it been an average winter so far for you, or colder than normal?
Hard to define “normal” weather anymore. Winters were much colder back in the dark ages when I was little! But last winter was so completely warm and many plants bloomed weeks ahead of schedule. This year is colder than last and plants are “teasing” us, making us anticipate their arrival this year–more fun actually. Have a good day. Susie
Cathy I had no idea how our Groundhog’s Day was started and now I know…fabulous. Our weather is usually the same no matter what Phil predicts…more snow. A foot yesterday with winds and cold…
Wow, you had a lot of snow this year! Stay warm!
No matter what we will have 6 more weeks of winter…it’s a given here!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
That’s a long wait, but winter can be such a lovely season too.
Well, as far as I´ve seen, Phil didn´t see his shadow. So spring is coming!!!!
Looks like it, but we had a sprinkling of snow overnight! (Sat-Sun)
It was a cold but beautifully sunny day here today – I was enjoying it, until I read your post!
Oh dear… I wonder if you’ll have more snow!
It’s forecast for this week!
The badger is wiser than we give it credit for! The sunshine has been beautiful today so I won’t rush to change the Winter duvet on the bed yet!
Best to wait and see!
I had no idea about the Groundhog Day and German connection. Very interesting!
I only found out a few years ago too.
It’s hot, hot, hot here in NZ – my garden could use some rain. Great post! Being a pagan, I celebrated Candlemas/Imbolc at this time when I lived in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s hard to get my head wrapped around the seasons being opposite here!
Most of the Christian festivals are rooted in pagan ones and surrounded by mystical sayings and predictions too. I bet there are some special ones where you live too!
Certainly I’m well aware of Groundhog’s Day, but I never heard about the badger! I’m not that familiar with Candlemas either, so very interesting!
Candlemas is the Christian festival of light, where candles are lit in church… with pagan origins!
Yesterday saw blue skies and glorious sunshine here Cathy but a biting cold wind – I think that winter will indeed be having another flight
And we had more snow Sunday night – so much for weather proverbs!
Wow I have a few in my yard that call this place home and I never saw them show their little faces then again mine know better it is WINTER and they are not pampered
I learned a lot from your post thanks for sharing
We went up the coast on a pretty ride yesterday. Up into Maine with flurries in the air and hundreds going from the 20 degree air to the 40 degree F waters of the Atlantic Ocean all dressed in wedding attire
yes we have a lot of strange but wonderful people who all did this for charity 
I SEE CRAZY PEOPLE warmer to just write a CHECK!
Winter is still hanging around here too – have to be patient for spring!
Yes I should be getting this body in better shape for all I want to do around here
I still have home half painted and 3/4 of the barn to do never mind the gardening 
Well Saturday was cloudy and raining here, and we’ve had wind and today sunny and warm so who knows what the weather willl do. Christina
It’s pretty unpredictable at the moment here too!