The Honest Courtesan

Posted in Holidays | Tagged holidays, paganism | 3 Comments

3 Responses

1. on February 3, 2017 at 2:10 am | Reply Rick

   Hi – I stumbled upon your site while trying to find out what happened to Jean O’Hara after her notorious career on Oahu. All I know is that she remarried
   Would you happen to have any info about her later years.
   Mahalo

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   • on February 3, 2017 at 2:55 am | Reply Maggie McNeill

     Please post this comment on the appropriate column.

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2. on February 4, 2017 at 6:22 am | Reply korhomme

   Imbolc was rebranded as Candlemas:

   When German settlers arrived in the 1700s, they brought a tradition known as Candlemas Day, which has an early origin in the pagan celebration of Imbolc. It came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Superstition held that if the weather was fair, the second half of Winter would be stormy and cold. For the early Christians in Europe, it was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of Winter. A lighted candle was placed in each window of the home. The day’s weather continued to be important. If the sun came out February 2, halfway between Winter and Spring, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather.

   The earliest American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College:

   February 4, 1841 – from Morgantown, Berks County (Pennsylvania) storekeeper James Morris’ diary…”Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.”

   According to the old English saying:

   If Candlemas be fair and bright,
   Winter has another flight.
   If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
   Winter will not come again.

   (source: http://pballew.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/on-this-day-in-math-february-4.html)

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