February 1st is a welcome turning point in the northern hemisphere as it heralds winter being halfway done and the first inklings of spring are beginning to trickle in and peek out at us. Snowdrops blooming are an emblematic symbol of this time as are Crocuses blooming, pussy willows blooming, lambs being born, the return of migratory songbirds and other signs hinting at the emergence of spring being around the corner.
Candlemas is the Christian holiday commemorating when the Virgin Mary, in obedience to Jewish law, went to the temple in Jerusalem, both to be purified 40 days after the birth of her son, Jesus, and to present him to God as her firstborn.
This time of year was also known to the Irish and ancient Celtic people's as Imbolc which means, "in the belly" and refers to lambing season and the ewe's coming into milk. It was also a celebration of the Celtic goddess Brigid.
The Chinese New year typically occurs on the New Moon close to this time of year as well, either in late January or early February.
Pop culture celebrates this time of year as Groundhog's day as so often there is a false spring in Northern Latitudes, which derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition about a groundhog emerging from it's winter slumber and whether or not he sees his shadow may indicate how long winter weather will last.
During the late 1800's Rudolf Steiner and those at the vanguard of the Anthroposophy movement posited (inferring from colloquial peasant folklore) that this time of year was when the elemental or nature spirits emerged from the earth to bring life back to the plant and animal realms after initiating their slumber at All Halllow's eve (Halloween aka Samhain to the ancient Celts).
By whatever name you would like to refer to this time of year, it's clear that something is beginning to subtly stir with nature and we may feel the impulse to begin to prepare, plant, prune and ready ourselves for the coming spring.
I have actually made it a personal ritual to allow January to be a month of rest, reflection and planning and I do not plant any seeds until February 1st. At this point here on our farm we head into the greenhouse to plant onions, leeks, spinach, poppies, broccoli, pac choi, lettuces, arugula, peas, Swiss Chard and cabbage.
What are you feeling stir? What are you planting?
Comments (0)