February 2nd might hold the record for most bizarre group of central figures all celebrated on the same date. Maybe. I’m not a weird holidays expert (actually, I am.) But I can tell you that I just treasure this date because it’s all about saying to hell with winter, bring on spring. And that’s a beautiful thing.
Candlemas
You thought Christmas was over? Pah! Candlemas celebrates the presentation of the wee baby Jesus at the Temple. In Jewish law, this would take place 33 days after the babe’s circumcision and 40 days postpartum (which for Jesus H. Christ would be… February 2nd!) The mother had to purify herself before entering through burnt or live offerings – the poor were exempt from bringing a lamb as a live offering, and were allowed instead to bring birds, which is the route Mary and Joseph opted for, as they were broke AF. They met a man there who prophesied that Jesus would be the savior of the world – and the Light of the World. Thus, the candles.
It became a tradition to bless candles for the coming year on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, which became known as Candlemas. It is also sometimes the date many people take down their Christmas decorations (others say Twelfth Night.)
In France and Belgium, Candlemas is celebrated with crêpes or pancakes. I’m so into that. This is attributed to Pope Gelasius I, who had pancakes handed out to pilgrims in Rome. Kinda looks like the sun, flipping it while holding a coin brings good luck, whatever. In Latin American countries and the Philippines, Candlemas is a feast day of various saints – including the Virgin of Candles – and often includes religious processions. Rad!
But what does this have to do with groundhogs?
Groundhog Day
When the Candlemas candle blessing tradition made its way to Germany, the clergy took the light thing a step further. Candlemas kicked off the “farmer’s year,” so weather was viewed as a sort of portent of the coming year. Oddly, they felt that a sunny day on Candlemas was a bad sign, as a hedgehog or badger could cast a shadow and be scared back into its den (or just tired of sunbathing, so they’d go back in for a nap), thus making a “second winter.”
Sonnt sich der Dachs in der Lichtmeßwoche, so geht er auf vier Wochen wieder zu Loche.
"If the badger sunbathes during Candlemas-week, for four more weeks he will be back in his hole.”
Of course the German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania brought that superstition with them. Absent of badgers and hedgehogs, the groundhog would have to do.
Though we have written proof that the tradition far preceded him, Clymer Freas, editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit, is credited as the father of Groundhog Day for reporting on the groundhog’s shadow (lack thereof, actually) in 1886. The following year, a group made the trip to Gobbler’s Knob to consult the groundhog, marking the first official Groundhog Day celebration.
History is fun: for the first several years of Groundhog Day, the members of the Punxsutawney Elks Lodge were the coordinators. … they also organized groundhog hunting parties each summer, and served groundhog in the lodge. By 1899, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was formed to handle the celebrations, including the hunt and Groundhog Feast – which eventually disbanded, as… ew.
Even though we all know his name, the tradition of naming the official groundhog “Phil” didn’t start until 1961. As best we can tell, he was named after Prince Philip. Also ew.
There are plenty of other groundhog watch parties, but why have the Great Value gopher?
Saint Brigid’s Day and Imbolc
The evening of February 1st through the evening of February 2nd has traditionally been a Gaelic festival falling halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox. As best we can guess, “Imbolc” comes from Old Irish meaning “in the belly–” referring to the pregnant ewes.
Saint Brigid is the patroness saint of Ireland. Among other things, she is associated with livestock and dairy workers. Celebrating her while the sheep are heavy with spring lambs just makes sense.
Imbolc traditions include making Brigid’s crosses, doing fun weather divination, symbolically inviting Saint Brigid in your home, having a hearty end-of-winter dinner and doing spring cleaning. As Saint Brigid is also a saint of healers, people would walk sunwise around holy wells while praying for good health, leaving behind ribbons, coins or strips of cloth.
It’s also an important Pagan/Wiccan/witchy holiday, incorporated into the witch’s Wheel of the Year.