Author: Nifty Buckles Folklore

Groundhog Day:

February second, North Americans’ wait in anticipation for Punxsutawney Phil to appear from his den to see his shadow or not.

Groundhog’s day origin evolves out of North America & Europe. In North America, Midwestern weatherlore used a Banded Woolybear Caterpillar  or Isabella Tiger Moth or Pyrrharctia isabella (J.E. Smith, 1797)  to predict the not to distant future, weather.

The weather was predicted by how wide was the Woolybear Caterpillar’s dark brown band on his coat. A wide band predicted a shorter winter while a thin band predicted a longer winter.

Later, weather lore was relayed from Germany where the Badger became the forecasting animal. This version of the lore that clear weather on the Christian Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter. Candlemass is a Christian Holy day also called ‘Badger Day.’ Celebrated on February 2nd.

Badger Photo: An adult female (sow) American Badger by Jona Thunder

It is from the Pennsylvania Dutch in North America (which are diaspora Germans,) that if a Groundhog pops out from its burrow on this day and spots its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den.

This results in winter continuing for six more weeks; but if it does not project its’ shadow because of an overcast sky, an early Spring will appear.

A Groundhog is much more gentle than a Badger to pull out of its’ burrow and replaced the fierce badger. (I bet the Badger is grateful. 🙂

Annually, on February 2nd North Americans have a  folk festival involving a group of people mainly (politicians) dressed in top hats and costume where one ( the town Mayor) pulls a sleepy groundhog out to predict the weather.

 Photo: Groundhog in public Domain

Note: Today, Punxsutawney Phil saw his Shadow, 6 more weeks of Winter folks.

The Charming of the Plough:

‘The Charming of The Plough.’ is an Anglo-Saxon charm and celebrated still today in Sweden and Denmark. ‘The Charming of the Plough,’ dates back into ancient agriculture times, long before the spread of Christianity in Europe.

European cultures would bless the plough for a bountiful harvest. Remember, they didn’t have grocery stores back then. Pagan’s lives revolved around agriculture and they made their food and everyday household products from ‘scratch.’

Imbolc: On February first, is an old Celtic pagan, purification, celebration to honor the Celtic goddess Brighid or Brigid  means ‘exalted one.’ She is the goddess mystic/healer that is honored throughout Ireland, ‘Isle of man’ and Scotland. Imbolc celebrates Spring’s imminent restoration from winter. Brigid is a triple goddess representing the three phases of the moon and the maiden, mother and crone phases of a woman’s life.
Brighid oversees the hearth n home. She is the patron of bards and poets, sorcerers, healers and magicians. She is known to have these gifts. Her priestesses honor her with a sacred flame. Later the Christian church transformed Celtic goddess Brighid to St. Brigid.

Imbolc is still celebrated each year in early February by Neo-Pagans one of their higher sabbats.

Many Catholic Christian churches in Europe celebrate St. Brigid with ‘Candlemass’ which was taken from goddess Brighid’s ‘CandleWheel.’ Brighid’s candlewheel is circular and has candles to honor the Celtic goddess with fire for ‘hearth n home.’

O’ Brighid Gaelic Queen of ‘fire n light,’

Bless this home n hearth tonight!

Welcome Spring’s first warm kiss of light,

Banish, winter’s cold with flight.

• Berger, Pamela (1985). The Goddess Obscured: Transformation of the Grain Protectress from Goddess to Saint. Boston: Beacon Press. pp. 70–73. ISBN 9780807067239.
• Monaghan, Patricia. The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. Infobase Publishing, 2004. p. 25
• Featured Art: Ancient Celtic goddess Brigid rep. triple goddesses by TerraIncantata, Will Worthington

*Other Photos and illustrations in public domain.