By my reckoning, in the small hours this morning we reached the halfway point between the Winter solstice and the Vernal equinox, so by this measurement it is Springtime. It also seems like Spring today with sunshine and birdsong!
The Gaelic peoples called this time Imbolc, which these days is celebrated on Feb 1st, a little too soon.
Feb 2nd was Groundhog Day, obviously related, in the US and Canada.
Then there's the Christian Candlemas, also celebrated on Feb 2nd, timed no doubt to replace any pagan festivities.
I find it surprising that the old Germanic and Nordic peoples don't seem to have marked or celebrated this time. Could it be perhaps because they only recognised the seasons of Winter and Summer, the latter starting in May?
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