Well, today is Groundhog day. And I don't think any groundhog anywhere in North America saw his shadow. Did the sun come out anywhere? And does that mean 6 more weeks of winter, or what? I've never figured that out.

Groundhog day, is relatively a new thing I think. Though it is derived from older Pagan traditions. Or a Bill Murray movie...one or t'other. ;-)

here is a quote from the Wiki entry on Groundhog day:

Around the fifth century, the European Celts believed that animals had certain supernatural powers on special days that were half-way between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Folklore from Germany and France indicated that when marmots and bears came out of their winter dens too early, they were frightened by their shadow and retreated back inside for four to six weeks. This may have been adopted by the Romans as Hedgehog Day. In Scotland the hedgehog has long been revered for its healing powers (as referenced in Robert Burns' Ode to a Hedgehog).

The earliest known American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Historical Society of Berks County in Reading, Pennsylvania. The reference was made Feb. 4, 1841 in Morgantown, Berks County, Pennsylvania storekeeper James Morris' diary: "Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the
day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.

So, I guess its an early Spring then? Isn't is strange that this first mention of Groundhog day in America took place in Morgantown, Berks County, PA when I now live in Morganton, Burke County, NC!? Ok, well I thought it was strange! :-p

Tomorrow evening, James and I are going with friend Juli to an Imbolc celebration in Hickory. Imbolc starts off the Celtic Pagan light half of the year. The days are getting longer, and signs of Spring are showing.

Here is the Wiki entry on Imbolc:

Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. Originally dedicated to the goddess Brigid, in the Christian period it was adopted as St Brigid's Day. In Scotland the festival is also known as Latha
Fhèill Brìghde, in Ireland as Lá Fhéile Bríde, and in Wales as Gwyl Ffraed.

Imbolc is traditionally a time of weather prognostication, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens is perhaps a precursor to Groundhog Day.

Traditional foods are breads made with seeds in them, as seeds are of course a symbol of Spring. I'm going to make some poppyseed bread, and maybe make some hummus, just because I like hummus!

I've been feeling rather ambivalent about things lately, so we'll see how I fare tomorrow. Even after 2 and a half (or so) years here, I've made sadly few friends, and even them, I hardly ever see. Not a single one I can call on when I need someone to talk to, lean on, rant with. I was sick when the Yule ritual was, so didn't see anyone, and a few calls and emails have gone unanswered. Work isn't any better, I've even tried to invite myself to lunch with the other ladies in my department, and they left without me with nary a nod or "sorry, no room". I've been there 6 months and not once has any of them invited me to lunch. And they're usually gone before I'm thinking about it. Southern hospitality :-p

What to do, what to do? Not much I can do I s'pose eh?  ¶ 8:27 PM