the shadow knows

No shadows here on Hollister Hill at sunrise, according to folklore this portends an early Spring. Actually, with the thin snow cover, almost looks like early Spring already.

“Half your wood and half your hay, should be left on Candlemas Day.”

Groundhog or Candlemas Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2 (winter’s mid-point). According to folklore, if a groundhog, emerging from its burrow on this day fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, if the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks. The holiday, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog. The holiday also bears some similarities to the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas and the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar, which is celebrated on February 2 and also involves weather prognostication.

Here in northern Vermont, it really doesn’t matter if there were any shadows this morning, we know there’s always plenty of winter left.