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Post by whollygoats on Feb 2, 2023 15:45:08 GMT
'Tis Imbolc.
Also known as St. Brigid's Day amongst the Irish, I suspect it has other names in other European linguistic groups. Here, in the US, we know it as Groundhog Day. (Yep...aka Candlemas.)
Yep....We have a set of superstitions arrayed around the ground dwelling marmot (marmota monax), an animal that is a WWF version of a ground squirrel. This set of superstitions is reputed to have been imported to North America by German migrants who recreated a German Candlemas tradition. Basically, if the marmot sees its shadow, then it is frightened back into its hibernation hole and winter (cold, wet, and dark weather) continues for another six weeks. However, if it is a terrible weather day and the skies are overcast such that no shadows are cast, it is seen as a positive sign that spring has arrived, or will soon. As it happens, the first week of February around here is often sunny and clear (if bitterly cold), as it has been for days, now.
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Post by Kye on Feb 2, 2023 19:07:40 GMT
The Celtic celebrations don't mean much here, alas. Spring starts around mid-April, summer starts mid-June, autumn beginning of September and winter lasts from November to mid-April. Sigh.
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Post by whollygoats on Feb 2, 2023 19:55:46 GMT
Yep....We have strong shadows cast by a sun in a blue sky. Six more weeks of winter.
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Post by JoeP on Feb 3, 2023 7:30:36 GMT
The Celtic celebrations don't mean much here, alas. Spring starts around mid-April, summer starts mid-June, autumn beginning of September and winter lasts from November to mid-April. Sigh. Winter is supposed to be about the same here, but it's been uncharacteristically warm and the meteorological people on the TV were saying there's not going to be much more winter this year. But what do they know?
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Post by Kye on Feb 3, 2023 11:19:10 GMT
That sounds improbable...
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Post by jayme on Feb 5, 2023 3:34:28 GMT
What we need to do is switch this groundhog out and get a blind critter, such as a mole, so it won't see its shadow no matter what the weather is like.
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Post by whollygoats on Feb 5, 2023 19:36:26 GMT
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Post by jayme on Feb 7, 2023 8:55:42 GMT
*pets the nice badger*
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Post by kingedmund on Feb 8, 2023 17:51:24 GMT
What we need to do is switch this groundhog out and get a blind critter, such as a mole, so it won't see its shadow no matter what the weather is like. *spits my earl grey tea all over*. 🤪
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Post by kingedmund on Feb 27, 2023 15:52:01 GMT
Assuming moles ever pop out of the ground without being dug up.
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Post by Moose on Feb 28, 2023 2:44:48 GMT
I HAD hoped it was getting warmer. Now, it is not any more.
But the nights are definitely shorter.
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Post by tangent on Feb 28, 2023 10:23:28 GMT
It's lovely being light at 6pm in the evening.
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Post by kingedmund on Mar 17, 2023 19:22:18 GMT
Well. It’s nice that daylight is getting longer.
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Post by whollygoats on Mar 18, 2023 12:26:13 GMT
So....The vernal equinox is slated for Monday midday (2:24 pm PDT) here.
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Post by Moose on Mar 19, 2023 1:24:21 GMT
Our clocks go forward next week - I gather that this has already happened in the US. Despite the cold it IS starting to seem more springlike.
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Post by whollygoats on Mar 19, 2023 2:09:01 GMT
Doors open, sitting on the front steps, chatting with my neighbor/gardener as she groomed my front walk. Blissful. And, the cats were o'erjoyed.
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