Saturday, February 2, 2013

Life in a Cottage Garden with Carol Klein - 1 of 6




Published on Feb 2, 2013
2011. Winter. It's winter and there is much to do; cutting back, preparing the soil and planting garlic.

Candlemas and Groundhog's Day February 2nd.



Today is Candlemas and Groundhog's Day both of these occasions have weather forecasting lore attached to them. As near as I can tell Groundhog's Day began in 1887 and Candlemas day is a Catholic Feast Day and I'm not sure of it's origin but likely in the middle-ages or earlier. The little rhyme for Candlemas Day says, If Candlemas Day be fair and clear there'll be two winters in the year. With Groundhogs Day if the Groundhog can see it's shadow there will be six more weeks of winter but if it is overcast and no shadows then winter is over. So they both give similar predictions of bad weather to follow if it is a bright sunny day. Here in North America both Canada and the United States have famous Groundhogs and their attendants in black tie and tails bring them out with great ceremony to see if they can see their shadows. I'm just curious in your part of the world are either one of these observations talked about or is it just the nut cases on this side of the pond.