February 2 - The Feast of Candlemas

[@Lyndell-P]

🇭🇲🦘 I had no idea about The Feast of Candelmas until now, although I should have. Now informed! Thank you Claire 👑 🕯🕯🕯🔔👍

[@jillniemczynski5517]

Happy Groundhog/ Candlemas Day! Gordy the Groundhog from Milwaukee Wisconsin predicts an early spring! Thanks as always, Clare, for a great piece of history! 👸👑🏰🎪👍💙

[@BarbaraBastron]

How interesting! I always wondered where we got Groundhog Day. Also, Episcopal Churches in US have palms on Palm Sunday. In San Diego there’s one that re-enacts Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey!

[@ruthgoebel723]

I am from Pennsylvania and Phil gets quite a lot of coverage during his day of weather predicting. In later years, other communities and in Canada as well, have started celebrating with their own groundhogs, such as Octoraro Orphie, Staten Island Chuck (New York), Jimmy the Groundhog (Wisconsin), Buckeye Chuck (Ohio), General Beauregard Lee (Georgia), Chattanooga Chuck (Tennessee), Gary the Groundhog and Shubenacadie Sam (Canada). I am sure there are more but I won’t fill up your comments with them! 😁 I did fine this video fascinating how customs go from place to place over time. Thanks!

[@h.calvert3165]

Hi there, American cousin! I'm in Toronto, Ontario. Wiarton Willie is another of our Canadian groundhogs, also in Ontario. We also call them whistle pigs & woodchucks! 🇺🇸 🤝 🇨🇦

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

I have to check if our very own Pickford Pete is still around! 😁

[@UtahGmaw99]

I have wondered what Candlemas was. Now I know. Thank you

[@mariahunter9882]

Thanks for this lovely video! I had no idea that funny furry groundhog was at all connected to Candlemas Day. According to the news "In keeping with this long tradition, Punxsutawney Phil will be popping out of his burrow at exactly 7:20 a.m." and as I write this it's 8pm on 1 February here on the east coast. So we have a little bit to go before we know. I'm struck with how you can see the beginnings of puritanical thought already in the time of Henry's son Edward. The lovely bit of ceremony associated with candles, palms and other things I find rather lovely and comforting. Too bad they thought they had do do away with all of it and remove it from everyone else's life as well.

[@mariahunter9882]

And it looks like Phil predicts an early Spring. There are a couple of other local groundhogs too, and it seems there was a mixed reaction one of them predicted more winter so we'll just rely on famous Phil and say the groundhog prediction is for early Spring. We'll see if he's right. Hope you are having lovely weather in Spain.

[@almontepaolilli4909]

Like the poetry tie into candlemas.

[@julieellandrapeters8337]

We get more winter according to the local groundhog. Though I have my doubts. Thank you for explaining this.

[@bowiearcangeli11]

It was very interesting today and shed light on a English holiday I’ve never understood. Thank you for sharing 🙏

[@ianslass]

First thing I thought of was Puxatawny Phil when you were speaking about winter being over or not. I guess I will know when I wake up tomorrow morning. ;)

[@ShirlEllen]

Love for your videos from the Polar-Vortexed suburbs of Chicago. According to the media, not only Phil on CNN but another groundhog named Gordy for Fox both say spring is on the way. I'll be happy if just means no more temperatures below zero. Thursday the 31st was 27 below. They even suspended mail delivery for two days which has NEVER happened before..

[@gscasale7772]

Dear Claire, I used to write the Astronomy pages for Natural HIstory Magazine. Here's one for Feb 2nd: February 2nd is Ground Hog's Day - brought to us courtesy of German immigrants in the 19th-century. It is all that is left of the pagan celebration called Imbolog marked as a cross-quarter day in ancient times - one of the four days in the year that fall mid-way between the great hinges upon which the solar year revolves: the Equinoxes in the Spring and Fall, and the Solstices in Winter and Summer. On Ground Hog's Day, changed to Candlemas by the early Church (intent on stomping out paganism), the Sun reaches midway between the places it occupies at the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. The early Celts of Northern Europe called February 2nd Imbolog - it seems to mean 'sheep's milk'. Imbolog marked the season of lambing, driving cattle from winter to summer grazing lands, and early spring planting. Like all the pagan agricultural festivities, great fires were lit to urge the Sun on. A belief arose: if February 2nd were sunny, a long winter was forecast; if the day gloomy, spring would be early. An early spring meant more to these hard-scrabble people than nice weather. An early spring planting meant an early harvest, and an end to a long, cold, hungry winter. The conquering Roman legions found the belief among the early Scottish Celts, and later carried it to the German peoples. Germans attributed the skill of presaging the coming season to the badger. No doubt because they coincided with the old pagan ways, the cross-quarter days were regarded as particularly uncanny and unlucky by the early Christians. Imbolog was no less so, but it did coincide with Luke's gospel describing Christ as a "light to lighten the Gentiles." And it also happened to fall 40 days after Christmas, the day Mary, following the Jewish custom, purified herself and presented Christ in the temple. From early Christian times, then, February 2nd was celebrated with the presentation, lighting and blessing of candles. But, the old pagan beliefs were tenacious, and persisted. Fine weather coming now might presage a second winter. Traditional Scotland gave us this medieval couplet: "If Candlemas be bright and clear, There'll be two winters in the year." From Cumbria: "If Candlemas Day be sunny and warm, ye may mend yer auld mittens, and look for a storm." And from Yorkshire: "A farmer should have, on Candlemas Day, half his corn, and half his hay." But from Germany, came this: "A farmer would rather see wife upon bier, than that Candlemas Day should be sunny and clear." Early German immigrants to Pennsylvania brought their folklore with them. They named what we call the marmot or woodchuck, the groundhog, and endowed the animal with the same abilites to predict the season as his European cousins. Why the animal was called a 'hog' is perhaps because of its pig-like habits, but may also hark back to an earlier time, in an earlier culture, where Demeter, goddess and ultimate overseer of the Harvest, took the form of the pig. It was at Demeter's will alone that the Earth became fruitful. In European folklore, the pig was a common embodiment of the corn-spirit. Could the behavior of a 'pig' somehow symbolize these early mysterious powers of a deity of vegetation? Today, the business of the groundhog's seeing or not seeing his shadow is big business in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, although, alas, the astronomical significance of the date has long since been forgotten. The age-old ways of watching the passage of the Sun in the heavens to know when to plant and when to let the livestock out to pasture, has given way to a whole country watching for a groundhog coming out of his hole. G.Cleere

[@causticchameleon7861]

6 more weeks of winter in the Southeast USA. We get our February 2nd prediction from the groundhog General Lee. The north uses that other groundhog.

[@aryiastark4698]

I am so glad you made this channel i have been on your tudor website and that websight is awesome

[@anneboleynfiles]

Aw, thank you!

[@charlyfraley4913]

Hello Clair Punxsutawney is predicting an early spring...he's only about 50% correct though lol I love your books and will be adding your new one to my library soon. Thanks for all your work and great videos Happy greetings from Kentucky,USA

[@riversong656]

T'is my birthday. Thanks for the information!

[@anneboleynfiles]

You're welcome! Happy birthday!

[@MG-br6yr]

Good ol’ Phil did not see his shadow and so we are supposed to have an early Spring....I’m watching this on the 7th and it was 83 degrees in Georgia, USA today! I feel like he may be correct this year😂

[@kathleenlee_author]

According to Wiarton Willie, from Wiarton, Ontario, there was no shadow so it will be an early spring. The thing is, growing up in Ontario most of my life, and Ottawa for the last 40 years, I never quite understood this. Six more weeks of winter IS an early spring around here.

[@sharongarcia9640]

This year puxataney Phil predicts an early spring. It’s called Groundhog Day.

[@h.calvert3165]

News flash! Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia calls for six more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania predicts an early spring. And the tie-breaker in Ontario, Wiarton Willie, is saying: early spring! Happy Candlemas/Groundhog Day, my friends!

[@mariahunter9882]

Happy Candlemas and Groundhog Day to you too!

[@h.calvert3165]

@@mariahunter9882 Thank you, fellow Tudorite, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada! 🍁

[@mariahunter9882]

@@h.calvert3165 You are welcome fellow Tudorite!

[@h.calvert3165]

@@mariahunter9882 💐 😉

[@annettefournier9655]

I'll look for that early spring here on Lake Erie. January was brutal.

[@davidrichards9654]

It's near St Werburghs Day, 3rd February

[@amazinggrace308]

Mr. Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow early spring it is!☔🍃🌷🌻💐

[@mrsdarcy821]

Puxatawny Phil saw his shadow this morning. Here’s hoping to an early spring.

[@mizfrenchtwist]

I thought he didn't see it........you sure.............

[@tracym9225]

In America, in the south (Texas) Philadelphia is not considered to be in the "south" it's "north" hence it's cold weather - but he didn't see his shadow. Unfortunately, he's not usually accurate. I can say our northern states are having one of the hardest winters they've seen in a long time. I hope for their sakes, he's right & spring comes early for everyone :)

[@wht-rabt-obj]

Claire, I have a question. So, during the reigns of individuals like Mary the First, when a King or Queen was persecuting Catholics or Protestants, what happened to people that were neither? What if one was a druid or Jewish or pagan?

[@anneboleynfiles]

The common people tended to follow the country's faith as you'd be brought up going to church and religion would be an integral part of daily life, but there would have been immigrants in big cities like London, so Jews for example, and they would have followed their own faith in privacy. I think if you were anything different to the norm then you'd keep it quiet and follow it privately.

[@wht-rabt-obj]

@@anneboleynfiles Gotcha. Thanks so much, Claire. I LOVE these videos as I tend to devour anything medieval, Tudor or Victorian.

[@elyjane8316]

It was compulsory to attend church, whatever one it was at that time. There were no atheists. If you were you kept quiet and still went to church. If you did not, then you were brought before the court and fined. As for Jewish people, officially, there were no Jews until Oliver Cromwell invited them. Of course there were a few around, but they would not have been English citizens. Hope that answers your questions.

[@mizfrenchtwist]

@@anneboleynfiles..........yes, it was not just about being or not being protestant or catholic . it also included being anything else....other than the persecuting religion at the time.........

[@misscatalina711]

I take down all decorations on the feast of the epiphany.

[@annfisher3316]

🕯🌿 🙏

[@ianslass]

If no one has told you, Claire...good old Phil predicted an Early Spring. :)

[@mrsdarcy821]

Opps I meant he DID NOT see his shadow. I guess I need more coffee! 😆

[@annalisette5897]

The Celtic pagan festival of Imbolc falls more or less on February first. The goddess Brigid is part of that so the church made the day SAINT Brigid's day honoring an early Christian woman named Brigid. Some historians suggest that Candlemas was intended to focus on women while keeping minds on Christian faith. The old festival of Imbolc was considered to have practical meaning in that it was the beginning of spring, guiding peasants and farmers to know the time of the year to begin plowing fields in preparation for planting. Some also say Imbolc was based on the beginning of lambing season and that was a reason why the actual feast day varied from year to year. Friends in the east say the weather is horrendous. Here in the west we have been spared the terrible polar weather in the rest of the country, however a terrible storm is coming. The rest of the week is supposed to have rain, snow and extremely low temperatures at night, about -12 C.

[@Mahmah476]

Puxatawny Phil predicted an early Spring.

[@PomegranateStaindGrn]

Are you able to monetize these videos? If you’re going to take the time to put them up every day, the least I could do is watch an advertisement so you can get a little something for your efforts. With all of the lights and crowds, I’m surprised Phil doesn’t see his shadow every year. He usually does but one of us in the states will let you know.

[@anneboleynfiles]

Monetization is switched on and I think it just chooses when and to whom it's going to show adverts. Thank you so much for your kindness.

[@PomegranateStaindGrn]

The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society - as promised, I’ve come to deliver Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast. He did NOT see his shadow. Winter should be on its way out (unfortunately). He has about a 36-39% accuracy rating overall but fares slightly higher predicting early springs at about 47%. So there you have it. lol

[@anneboleynfiles]

@@PomegranateStaindGrn Thank you! I'm struggling with knowing what our weather means today. It was bright and is now very dull and windy.

[@kitsiewr]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT cram ads into these very interesting talks -they absolutely RUIN You Tube !

[@kimberlycosta6283]

For every 1,000 views you make a dollar. Not a whole lot to be made, sadly.

[@ECWnWWF]

how come none of these videos explain that Candlemas is the midpoint of the Winter Season?

[@aryiastark4698]

I cant wait to see what febuary 10 will be that is my birthday

[@anneboleynfiles]

I'll try and pick something good!

[@aryiastark4698]

@@anneboleynfiles thank you so much!! Ive loved history since i was a young girl especially tudor history. I felt especially drawn to Anne Bolyne since i can remember she has always fasinated me. The way Henry treated her massively made me beyond words angry. I also have a fasination with her daughter Elizabeth. Guess Anne got the last laugh in the end. I always wondered if the storys of Elizabeth having her own bastards and then having them raised by certain trusted nobel families could have been true

[@anneboleynfiles]

@@aryiastark4698 Elizabeth certainly was a wonderful legacy for Anne. I don't believe that Elizabeth had any children. A queen never had any privacy. She was dressed and bathed by her ladies, so she just couldn't have had children without people knowing and I believe that news would have got out.

[@aryiastark4698]

@@anneboleynfiles i think part of the reason i had held onto that hope was because i wanted Anne Bolyne line to go on. I know it did go on through Mary Bolyne. Just always want Anne to have her line out there somewheres.

[@kellyel8646]

Phil did not see his shadow, so that is supposed to mean early spring! That said, he's only been correct 40% of the time....

[@djbabyj1]

update on the Groundhog prediction here in the US. Nebraska to be precise. He was wrong. :( winter was supposed to be over yet we were hit with a blizzard, a bomb cyclone and flood within a week. it was unreal.

[@anneboleynfiles]

Brrrrrr!

[@ktoledo8315]

Fiesta de la Candelaria

[@agelessinspiration]

lol I just saw this was posted on Feb 2 but it is still Feb 1 here in Canada ....

[@anneboleynfiles]

I'm in Spain so quite a few hours ahead of you!

[@agelessinspiration]

@@anneboleynfiles Yes, it took a minute for me to clue in :) You are lucky to be there, we are buried in snow drifts at the moment here in Toronto area!

[@anneboleynfiles]

@@agelessinspiration I hope you can stay in and keep warm! We have high winds here today so I'm staying in the warm.

[@ginaoneil9565]

Theres snow outside my window!

[@poutygorilla2698]

I just now checked my house thoroughly for any remaining ornaments 🤣

[@UtahGmaw99]

I have found Forgotten ornaments as late as summer. My kids laughed at me for that. lol

[@poutygorilla2698]

My x husband once left Santa on the roof until July 😱

[@anneboleynfiles]

I've just found a Santa candle!

[@justanobodyonyoutube3580]

This was also the day Katharine Tudor was born

[@annvictor9627]

Sigh -- the Catholic Church changed the name from "Candlemas" to "The Presentation of Our Lord" some years ago.

[@AmericanWoman1964]

Phil is rarely correct...