Candlemas.

[curiouswombat]

Today is Candlemas - and there is, of course, a dance for it -

Candlemas is the last day in the season of Christmas and is traditionally, in some places, when you took down the last of the Christmas decorations. It was also the day that you took your candles to church to be blessed for the year ahead - they were then to be a reminder of Christ

Comments

[kazzy_cee]

That picture from last year looks rather blustery! LOL!

[curiouswombat]

Doesn't it! But at least it was dry :)

[noadvertising]

...held in part outdoors (weather permitting!- you sure that this was the case then? Looks a bit stormy that day!

[curiouswombat]

I think only heavy rain or snow, or a severe weather warning, would have put them off - blustery weather is more or less the average for this time of year. But I would still rather them than me!

[wiseheart]

That dance is really lovely. I admire your local traditions. :)

[curiouswombat]

Thank you - it is rather lovely. It is nice to think that someone is keeping the traditions going.

[shirebound]

That was delightful to watch. Brrrr, they would have been chilly in our 19F/-7C this morning!

[curiouswombat]

I am not sure if Jo was part of the service this year - I must ask her - and if she was, was it very chilly. But for us that would be anything under about 6C!

[seaivy]

you wrote all the things i was going to about the history of this day
but i haven't had time for this morning
Thank You
except here in the USA it is Ground Hog Day
a custom brought here by German setters in Pennsylvania

each year poor Puxatanny Phil is some how pulled out of his burrow
does he or doesn't he see his shadow is suppose to tell if it will be an early end to winter

your ritual looks wonderful!!!

my very proper Catholic Women's College in the 1950s
observed Candlemas by stacking boxes of candles in the sanctuary and having our chaplain bless them

[curiouswombat]

I am sure I read somewhere that the European tradition involved whether you could see the shadow of a hedgehog.

I have always thought that finding a hedgehog would be almost impossible at this point of the winter... until we saw the one at D-d's at the beginning of January!

[reapermum]

Round here, English midlands, we have the rhyme:
If Candlemas day is fine and bright
Winter will take another bite.
If Candlemas day has clouds and rain
Winter will not come again.

[curiouswombat]

We have had both sorts of weather today... :) Goodness knows which way it might go!