February, and I'm pondering on why it so often seems a hopeful month.
Perhaps it's because all the December and early January festivities are over? The glitter, the tinsel, the lights and decorations are packed away in boxes. The guests have come and gone, and all the events and outings enjoyed. Rooms have been righted, sheets and duvet covers washed and dried, and spare pillows stowed in the linen cupboard. Even that Ghost of January's Past - the haunted dread of the tax return - has been faced, sent and paid. All is done and over, and the new year has truly begun.
Today, the first of February, is a traditional Irish celebration known as St Brigid's Day or, in older traditions, as 'Imbolc'. The feast falls halfway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, and marks the start of the lambing season, the time for plant new seeds and, with the growing daylight, the beginning of Spring.
February 2nd is Candlemas, a day in the Catholic calendar associated with the blessing of candles and candle-lit processions. This feast is also known as the Presentation, the day when the Holy Child was taken to the Temple for the first time. Liturgically, Candlemas is also the conclusion of Christmas season, so any fading fir trees or sets of nativity figures should definitely disappear from view.
Meanwhile, February 2nd, in America, is also famous as Groundhog Day and not only for that film. From a Pennsylvanian-German 'hibernation' tradition, this day is when a groundhog emerges from its burrow. If the groundhog - or, back in Europe, a bear or badger - sees its own shadow, the animal will retreat into its den, and winter will continue or six more weeks. However, if the groundhog pops its head out and sees no shadow, spring will be arriving early.
What? This 'shadow or no shadow' idea puzzled me: who wouldn't want sunshine and a bright day? Who'd want weather that was grey, overcast and with no sun or shadows?
The answer, it seems, lies in a traditional belief that a bright, clear Candlemas day would herald a prolonged winter. Though there's a pleasure in playing with such old cultural beliefs, I feel sure, in America, there are more things to worry about right now.
But, here and now, what do all those hopes and traditions tell me?
That if I - or you - didn't make or keep those start of January hopes and resolutions, worry not! Today, the beginning of February is the moment to begin again. This is the time when the daylight becomes stronger, and when spring starts springing. Today, early February, is the real 'start again' season.
If you are not already settled and busy - as I know some ABBA bloggers will be, the amazing souls - what and where will you be going?
Is it opening up your big novel project, making more time for 'fill the well' experiences, joining an online writing course or group, sorting through that file of scrappy ideas, deciphering those scribbles on the run still in your pocket notebook, finding that file of hidden, half-forgotten poems, or even wandering through one inspirational book or another.
February feels very much a month for beginning, for finding some sunshine, with or without shadows. Good luck!
(And of course - oh bother - there's always St Valentine's, available from all good and less-good supermarkets, stores and screens near you . . . Ignore?)
Penny Dolan
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