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February is coming, put on warm boots
and a hat,
and a scarf.
Don’t forget your gloves!
The word LUTY (February) in olden times was used as an adjective and meant cold, frosty, severe, cruel and wild. February is the last month of winter, and although the shortest, it is the most troublesome due to bitter frosts and raging blizzards.
“February is often clad in ice,” says an old proverb.
Every year, on February 2nd, America celebrates Groundhog Day. This custom was first observed in Pennsylvania in 1887, brought there by German settlers.
Animals were carefully observed to predict the weather from their behavior. And so, to this day, every year on February 2nd, Americans, tired of the long and cold winter, wait from early morning in front of the groundhog’s burrow, named Phil, to see how he will behave. And to “find out “when spring will arrive, and with it warmer days. If the animal comes out of its burrow and, without seeing its shadow, goes for a walk around the area, it will mean that spring is just around the corner! If, however, it sees its shadow and, frightened by the sight, quickly returns to its burrow – it will herald another six long weeks of frosty winter. Is the groundhog right? Can he be trusted? Well… Almost seven weeks later, on March 20/21, calendar spring arrives anyway! Since 1887, Phil the groundhog has seen his shadow 96 times, meaning that for that many years, winter “held on for a long time”.”
In Poland, as throughout Europe, nature has long been closely observed to predict the weather and future harvests. In the vicinity of Tarnów and Rzeszów, not groundhogs but bears were observed! If there was frost on Candlemas, and bears came out of their dens, it meant that spring would be early. However, if the day was gloomy, cloudy, and shrouded in gloom, and the emerging bears were busy “renovating “and improving their winter dens, it was a sign that winter would reign for quite a long time. Birds were also observed: “when on Candlemas the goose walks on water, it will walk on ice at Easter”.”
This year’s February blew into Chicago at 60 miles per hour. It swirled with snow, swept through the streets… You wouldn’t send a dog out in it! Kids and teachers are happy for a day off, because schools are closed. There hasn’t been such a blizzard here in forty years! A snowstorm and gale outside the window, and I’m sitting by the fireplace, repeating an old Polish proverb with a smile and hope: “When in early February there are storms and snow, the beginning of spring is not far off”! The beginning of spring is not far off…
These proverbs rarely fail, so I warn you – “on Saint Dorothy’s Day (February 6th) there should be snow up to the fences,” and “Saint Valentine (February 14th) is unyielding (frosty),” but “on Saint Matthias’ Day (February 24th) is the first hope of spring”!
Here’s to spring. Here’s to spring!
Iwona Sikorska – Szczupak
photo by pixabay.com
