February 2

February 2, 1887, the first Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney is observed. However, this isn't the first time we ever did weather prognostication. The Celts had already been doing it for many years, along with other cultures, and all at the beginning of February. This day is simply the day that we still celebrate in the US. There are other groundhogs around the world too, it is just that Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous one, annually around 40,000 people attend the event . If the groundhog sees his shadow, we have six more weeks of winter. I wonder what Phil will tell us tomorrow?

Originally the groundhog wasn't a groundhog at all, but a badger. The Pennsylvania Dutch (Germans), brought the tradition to the new world. The Celts and the hag predate the badger, but with the same indicator, if it is cloudy that day, more winter; sunny that day, spring is coming!

February 2 is also a day with more religious overtones. It is also Candlemas. Candlemas evolved out of Imbolc as the Christians tried to bring the Pagans into the church. The Celts and other pagans were lighting candles for Brigid, they were celebrating bringing light back into the skies. The Church decided to use the same candles (Brigid is goddess of the sacred flame), to draw in the pagans. The day actually became known for several different things. It was known as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin. Mary went  to the temple (remember temples are Jewish houses of worship), to be purified after Jesus birth. I always thought this was interesting. Here is a woman who supposedly had an immaculate conception and gave birth to Christ and she needs to be purified from that like any "normal" woman? When one really looks at the dogma of the church and Bible one HAS to come up with questions like this. But Mary supposedly went on this day to the Temple to be purified.

This day was chosen not because Mary actually went to the Temple on this day (scholars have shown Jesus was born in the spring, not December, which to me would make a better teaching story that the winter , but so be it), but to help blend in with celebrations of Brigid. The church knew that the Celts were celebrating Brigid , so they wanted to bring in a similar type of celebration to show them how "similar" the traditions were, and to make them feel comfortable in the church.

Candlemas was a day when people would bring their candles to the priests to be blessed, so they would last until there was much light in the day again and they wouldn't be needed so much.Candles were prized and valuable things in the old days. They brought light, and even a little warmth. So this day became the Presentation of Jesus at The Temple. The day Jesus would have been baptized (which is funny because he actually wouldn't have been born yet, being his birthday really isn't Decemebr 25).

The holidays in the church were a haphazard system of trying to meld with the traditions of the non Christians to make them want to come to the church. It worked on some people, others either didn't conform , or were shunned, and at times, killed. The world today allows for all religions , but unfortunately people are still killed for their beliefs.

February 2 is a day of all kinds of secular and non-secular celebrations. There are even more depending on the type of church you attend. Eastern Orthodox, Spanish and Brazilian churches have their own celebrations for example.

So on February 2, pick a celebration. The easiest,  is to watch Phil and see what he has to say about winter. Some years it gets a little exciting with Phil taking a nip out of a handler, but then if I were pulled out of my nice warm bed, I would probably do the same!

May spring come soon to those of us in the northern hemisphere!


Peshaui Wequashimese


(C)2012 Dr. R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission