OK. This morning Punxsutaweny Phil, the nation's original weatherman, did NOT see his shadow, indicating "early spring".
Think about that:
When you see shadows, it is a bright, sunny day. If you don't see shadows, it is cloudy and overcast. So, "sunny" equals more winter? What's with that?
February 2 is the middle point between Winter Solstice on December 21 and Spring Equinox on March 20.
And forklore has it that if the midpoint of Winter is bright and sunny, the remaining weeks of Winter will be harsh and stormy.
So ... Seeing a shadow on February 2 equals "bright and sunny" which equals more more harsh Winter weather to come. More here.
In ancient Celtic traditions, the middle points between solticies and equinoxes were known as Cross Quarter Days and were celebrated as High Holy Days. February 2, the Cross Quarter Day betwwen Winter Soltice and Spring Equinox, was called Imbolc.
February 2 is also exactly 40 days after December 25. Ancient Jewish women celebrated a ritual purification exactly 40 days after the birth of a son. According to early Christian tradition, Mary, the mother of Jesus, would have celebrated this ritual on February 2, 40 days after December 25.
According to an old English song:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.
According to an old Scotch couplet:
If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be twa (two) winters in the year.
Another variation of the Scottish rhyme:
If Candlemas day be dry and fair,
The half o' winter to come and mair,
If Candlemas day be wet and foul,
The half of winter's gone at Yule.
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