Candlemas With Groundhog

Candles at Geghard Monastery (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

2 February 2022

Today is Candlemas, Groundhog Day, and the astronomical halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. This halfway point, called a cross-quarter day, is the reason the holidays exist.

In the astronomical year there are four halfway points between the solstices and equinoxes (green arrowheads in diagram; click on diagram for larger version).

Orbital relations of solstice, equinox (diagram from Wikimedia Commons, annotated for cross-quarters)

February’s cross-quarter day is especially significant because we are coming out of darkness into longer daylight and the growing season. Our ancestors were so excited by the prospect that they created holidays on 2 February to celebrate the halfway point.

For the ancient Celts this day is Imbolc, the beginning of the spring.

In the Christian tradition it is Candlemas, a festival to commemorate the purification of Mary and the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Candles are traditionally blessed during the celebration.

Festival of Candlemas in Sanok (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

And in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania it’s Groundhog Day. If the groundhog “Punxsutawney Phil” sees his shadow today (because the sun is shining) winter will go on for six more weeks. If he doesn’t (because it’s overcast) then we’re in for an early spring.

Punxsutawney Phill on Groundhog Day 2018 (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

The sun rose and so did the groundhog to make his prediction. Here is today’s sunrise in Pittsburgh, about 80 miles from Punxsutawney.

Sunrise today in Pittsburgh, 2 Feb 2022, 7:15am (photo by Kate St. John)

Yup, the sun was shining and Phil saw his shadow. Punxsutawney Phil says we’ll have 6 more weeks of winter. Watch the 15-minute celebration here.

(photos by Kate St. John and from Wikimedia Commons; click on the captions to see the originals)

One thought on “Candlemas With Groundhog

  1. What a crazy tradition! It put Punxsutawney on the map. Glad they were able to have an audience today. Wish he could predict how much more snow we’ll be getting.

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