Here are more notes of Groundhog Day--thanks to some Facebook friends!
From Tyler, a priest in the Catholic Church: Candlemass is also known as the "Presentation of the Lord in the Temple". It is a feast day commemorating Luke 2:22-40 when the baby Jesus was presented in the temple by Mary and Joseph in accordance with Jewish practice, dedicating the first born son in remembrance of the Passover 40 days after birth. Today is the 40th day after Christmas. In the Gospel passage, the prophet SImeon prophesies that Jesus would be a Lumen Gentium-Light to the nations. So it became the custom to bless all the candles that would be used in the church for the coming year. The candle tradition was more than likely also a pagan tradition having to do with the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.Also in Rome today is the traditional day to take down the Christmas tree and put away the Nativity scene. Sort of the official end to the Christmas festivities...in time for the beginning of Lent.
From my friend Teddy:
this ones for you. found it on the history channel web site: Teddy Butler Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas Day, when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal--the hedgehog--as a means of predicting weather. Once they came to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition, although they switched from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in the Keystone State
Monday, February 2, 2015
Where in the Heck Did Groundhog Day Come From?
Have you ever wondered how Ground Hog Day got started? Me too! I'm still not sure of the current holiday's true origins, but I do know that Feb. 2 is roughly half-way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. So we're already half way to Spring! (Except that in these northers climes Spring does't actually arrive until sometime in May, if we're lucky.) No matter.
In doing a bit of reading I've learned that there is a holiday or festal observance in all four of the seasons. Feb. 2 is the one between midwinter and spring's "arrival". In the Medieval Church is was called Candlemas. And since the Medieval Church tended to make Holy Days ('Hoildays') out of pagan observances, I think this is probably the case. I need to do more research on Candlemas...
The next midpoint is half-way between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. It is May 1! Sound familiar? It's long been celebrated as May Day. And there are probably a lot of pagan fertility rites in its dark past. Bu the way I've run across one of its ancient names--Beltane. The Church took care of it by calling it May Crowning, when the Virgin Mary is crowned the Queen of the May--whatever that means.
No one will be surprised to learn that the midpoint between the Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice is Oct. 31 or Nov. 1. This is the one that seems to have the most overtones and observance in our modern day. Halloween with all its ghostly trapping is obvious. In ancient times is was called Samhain--and was the night of the dead. The Church took over and named Nov. 1 All Saints Day, so we can remember those who have gone before us. I have a feeling that's what the ancients did on Samhain, too. Martina Luther added some weight to All Saints Day (for Protestants, at least) by nailing his 'Theses' or objections to the Catholic Church on the church door where he was pastor. (Wittenburg--now in Germany).
'Wait!' you say. What about the midpoint between Summer Solstice and the Fall Equinox? Well, all I've been able to find on this so far is that the Medieval Church called it Lammas, but I don't know what that means. It falls on August 1. When I lived in Colorado it was a holiday celebrating the statehood of that state. Haven't heard of any other holidays on Aug. 1--but maybe it's because we're just too busy enjoying the fleeting days of Summer. Perhaps in this age, we just celebrate Lammas from Midsummer all the way to Autumn.
Anyway, Spring is Coming--eventually!
In doing a bit of reading I've learned that there is a holiday or festal observance in all four of the seasons. Feb. 2 is the one between midwinter and spring's "arrival". In the Medieval Church is was called Candlemas. And since the Medieval Church tended to make Holy Days ('Hoildays') out of pagan observances, I think this is probably the case. I need to do more research on Candlemas...
The next midpoint is half-way between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. It is May 1! Sound familiar? It's long been celebrated as May Day. And there are probably a lot of pagan fertility rites in its dark past. Bu the way I've run across one of its ancient names--Beltane. The Church took care of it by calling it May Crowning, when the Virgin Mary is crowned the Queen of the May--whatever that means.
No one will be surprised to learn that the midpoint between the Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice is Oct. 31 or Nov. 1. This is the one that seems to have the most overtones and observance in our modern day. Halloween with all its ghostly trapping is obvious. In ancient times is was called Samhain--and was the night of the dead. The Church took over and named Nov. 1 All Saints Day, so we can remember those who have gone before us. I have a feeling that's what the ancients did on Samhain, too. Martina Luther added some weight to All Saints Day (for Protestants, at least) by nailing his 'Theses' or objections to the Catholic Church on the church door where he was pastor. (Wittenburg--now in Germany).
'Wait!' you say. What about the midpoint between Summer Solstice and the Fall Equinox? Well, all I've been able to find on this so far is that the Medieval Church called it Lammas, but I don't know what that means. It falls on August 1. When I lived in Colorado it was a holiday celebrating the statehood of that state. Haven't heard of any other holidays on Aug. 1--but maybe it's because we're just too busy enjoying the fleeting days of Summer. Perhaps in this age, we just celebrate Lammas from Midsummer all the way to Autumn.
Anyway, Spring is Coming--eventually!
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
I've Seen the Light!
January 6 -- The 12 Days of Christmas officially ended yesterday. Now, most of us in this century have left Christmas behind long ago (or so it seems), around the 26th or 27th of December. So what's with these 12 days? Well, in the Medieval Church calendar (back when there was only one church in most of Europe--the Roman Catholic Church--and by the way "catholic" merely means "universal") the Christmas Season began on Dec. 25 and extended through Jan.5.
In fact, Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night" was written for a celebration of the last day of Christmas. In our modern world, we can't take 12 full days for Christmas (usually). Another story I've heard is that as long as the Yule Log burned, the masters had to serve their servants, in observance of Christmas (the way Jesus came to be a servant, right?). No wonder they went out and got the hugest log they could find! The longer it burned, the longer the celebration--and service from the master!
So now what? Well, Jan.6 marks the beginning of The Feast of the Epiphany. What does that big word mean, you ask? Well, it's like an enlightenment or a revelation. Remember the old cartoons of a person with a light bulb over their head, showing they had a idea? That's an epiphany. And so, this feast on Jan. 6 marks when the Magi came to worship the Christ Child. They had "seen the light" of His star in the east! (By the way, in some countries, like Spain, children had to wait until Jan 6, The Feast of the Epiphany, to open their presents!)
Throughout the 6 weeks of the Epiphany Season (which ends at Ash Wednesday, by the way--more to come on that later...), the Bible lessons traditionally focus on ways we "see the light" of the promised Messiah in Jesus. For example, when he turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana, Galilee; or when his true glory was revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration; or when he was baptized in the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit came down on him from heaven, in the form of a dove.
Actually Epiphany has become one of my favorite seasons of the traditional church year. It is a good way to focus on how special Christ is, and how much he can change our lives, when we let him. It also helps me get over the Post-Holiday Blahs!
So there you are: why I've been such a 'bean counter' these past couple of months. It's one way to make winter seem more pleasant, I think. What better way to get through the long, dark nights of winter! Have YOU seen the light?
In fact, Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night" was written for a celebration of the last day of Christmas. In our modern world, we can't take 12 full days for Christmas (usually). Another story I've heard is that as long as the Yule Log burned, the masters had to serve their servants, in observance of Christmas (the way Jesus came to be a servant, right?). No wonder they went out and got the hugest log they could find! The longer it burned, the longer the celebration--and service from the master!
So now what? Well, Jan.6 marks the beginning of The Feast of the Epiphany. What does that big word mean, you ask? Well, it's like an enlightenment or a revelation. Remember the old cartoons of a person with a light bulb over their head, showing they had a idea? That's an epiphany. And so, this feast on Jan. 6 marks when the Magi came to worship the Christ Child. They had "seen the light" of His star in the east! (By the way, in some countries, like Spain, children had to wait until Jan 6, The Feast of the Epiphany, to open their presents!)
Throughout the 6 weeks of the Epiphany Season (which ends at Ash Wednesday, by the way--more to come on that later...), the Bible lessons traditionally focus on ways we "see the light" of the promised Messiah in Jesus. For example, when he turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana, Galilee; or when his true glory was revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration; or when he was baptized in the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit came down on him from heaven, in the form of a dove.
Actually Epiphany has become one of my favorite seasons of the traditional church year. It is a good way to focus on how special Christ is, and how much he can change our lives, when we let him. It also helps me get over the Post-Holiday Blahs!
So there you are: why I've been such a 'bean counter' these past couple of months. It's one way to make winter seem more pleasant, I think. What better way to get through the long, dark nights of winter! Have YOU seen the light?
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Still Counting--and I'm not really a Bean Counter!
Okay, it's almost Midnight here, so I can go ahead and put in my plug for the Eleventh Day of Christmas, which is (according to my favorite version) eleven Pipers Piping. Now I think that could be musicians OR plumbers, don't you think? The first would be more melodious than the second, unless the musicians were fourth graders just learning to play recorders! I think 12+ years of that are what has given me Tinnitis, constant ringing in my ears. Oh well, some of them actually learned to play the things! I prefer to think of all the lives I touched with music. It was worth it!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Old Father Time Lives On
Winter Solstice is only 9 days away. I realized I'd better wish you all "Io Saturnalia!" That's Latin for Merry Christmas, except that it was pre-Christ's birth, so Christmas didn't really exist yet.
Saturn was the "grandfather" of the Gods, having been the father of Jupiter (Zeus in Greek) who was, in turn, father of most of the rest of the gods in mythology. I find it interesting that old Saturn still shows up this time of year, as Father Time, portraying the Old Year who is going out when we welcome in the Baby New Year. So perhaps I'd better amend my post to say Io Saturnalia and Happy New Year! The count off to that is 16 days!
Saturn was the "grandfather" of the Gods, having been the father of Jupiter (Zeus in Greek) who was, in turn, father of most of the rest of the gods in mythology. I find it interesting that old Saturn still shows up this time of year, as Father Time, portraying the Old Year who is going out when we welcome in the Baby New Year. So perhaps I'd better amend my post to say Io Saturnalia and Happy New Year! The count off to that is 16 days!
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Looking Forward
Only 12 more days until the days start getting longer again! Right now we're losing about a minute of daylight each day.
On the even better side, I have been having fewer migraines since mid-November. Come to think of it, that's about when I started this countdown to the Solstice. Must be some kind of benefit in having something to look forward to.
I find it strange that some of the benefits of the holiday season and also the detriments. We enjoy the hustle and bustle and the idea of getting ready for something special. But at the same time, those things can get us stressed out, too. I don't have any sage answers about this, though.
On the even better side, I have been having fewer migraines since mid-November. Come to think of it, that's about when I started this countdown to the Solstice. Must be some kind of benefit in having something to look forward to.
I find it strange that some of the benefits of the holiday season and also the detriments. We enjoy the hustle and bustle and the idea of getting ready for something special. But at the same time, those things can get us stressed out, too. I don't have any sage answers about this, though.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Winter's Clouds and Chill
The following verse from one of the many hymns written my John Newton, seems to strike a 'chord' (sorry for the music joke) in me. Newton is best known for his hymn 'Amazing Grace', and for the story of his conversion from slave-trader ship captain to preacher of the Word.
There are times when the winter of our souls is a reflection of the cold weather we see in northern climes this time of year. Well, to be more truthful, the chill in our soul can be much worse that any blizzard that is howling outside our windows. But Newton has an answer for that, too. As St. Paul put it, It's between staying and keeping our friends happy, or going to be with the Lord, which is far better. Yet, Paul did stay, until the Lord called him home--in his good time. And I know the same was true for Newton.
Dear Lord, if indeed I am
thine, if thou art my sun and my song,
Say, why do I languish and pine, and why are my winters so
long?
Oh, drive these dark clouds from my sky,
Thy soul-cheering presence restore:
Or take me unto thee on high,
Where winters and clouds are no more.
John Newton, 1725-1807
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