During October and November, my personal prognosticator was showing his face on my back patio. We are experiencing a mild winter, but I have seen no sign of him. I wonder if he will realize what day it is, make a fateful appearance, and tell me spring is near. Hopefully, he will share his secrets and not force me to rely on Punxsutawney Phil.
Today is an astronomical holiday, the year’s first cross-quarter day, to be specific. A cross-quarter day falls halfway between the solstice and the equinox. Falling on February 2, they also call it Candlemas or Imbolc. The other three cross-quarter days are May Day, May 1st, also called Beltane; August 1st, Lughnasadh, or Lammas Day; and October 31st, Samhain, or Halloween. In our set calendar system, and with the leap year, those exact days vary somewhat, but they offer some interesting traditions to explore.
I have read an old German saying which states, “A shepherd would rather see a wolf enter his stable on Candlemas Day than see the sun shine.” This year the farmer may have more riding on either the 49er’s or the Chiefs to pay much attention to the groundhog’s predictions.
Are you hoping for a sunny Sunday? Or will you be busy voting on your favorite Super Bowl commercial?
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Keep on writing.
Jo Hawk The Writer
i love referring to a farmer’s almanac, interesting bits of information totally inapplicable to me but tells me about life in far flung places. I first found out about this astronomical holiday watching Groundhog Day!
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It is an amusing movie. I can’t imagine living the same day over and over, but I do love when they hide little gems of information and facts in films. Hope you have a great day.
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Thanks Jo, a Monday again and a new work week, thankfully I don’t get to repeat it like in the movie! Have a pleasant Sunday evening.
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I have a quote for you today, Jo. One of my favorites, and from the movie Groundhog Day. Reporter Phil, reflecting on Punxsutawney Phil’s current year winter prediction: It’s gonna be cold, it’s gonna be grey and it’s gonna last you for the rest of your life.
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😄😄🐨 It was a wonderful movie, full of great lines, Hard to pick just one. I hope you have a wonderful day, Jeff.
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Happy Groundhog Day. And Happy Saint Brigid’s Day, which I guess was yesterday. Officially, I watched the moment in Punxsutawney when Phil was taken out of his hutch at Gobbler’s Knob. The official verdict is an early spring. Which is fine but I don’t know. It seemed to me that Phil was prodded toward the desired scroll to read. And why a scroll? I have wondered over the years how Phil could not see his shadow when the television cameras were on him the whole time. Maybe this is how. Strange.
I hope you see your predictor today.
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The limelight does cast a shadow. 😎 According to the web Phil claims a 100% accuracy rate, and an approximately 80% accuracy rate in recorded predictions claiming in turn that whenever the prediction is wrong, the person in charge of translating the message must have made a mistake in his interpretation. Seems they have all the bases covered. Have a great day CL
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thank you for sharing. ✨💖✨
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