The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-09-17
cANplEMAS DAY.
The Literature OF the weather superstE-
ton Associated with the Ground Hog.

- 1
The Literature Of the Weather superstI-
ton Associated with the Ground Hog.
February 2, OF Candlemas Day, a
religious holiday known in the Church
calendar as the Feast Of the Puri-
fication of the Virgin, is also known
as ..ground hog day." and is generally
known throughout the United States
as the day which forecasts the weather
for the succeeding spring. The origin
of the weather superstition and OF its
connection with Candlemas is difficult
of explanation. A popular belief, says
Prof. w. P. Jones, to the origin OF
which the memory of man can not
reach, objects to sunshine on this day.
The Latins said
| 81 Sol splendescat Maria purih cante
Major crit glacis post fictum guam fuit ante.
The Scotchman of to-day says:
If Candlemas is fair and clear
There'n be twa winters in the year.
The French have a rhyme of similar
import, and so have the Germans, and
no doubt the people of other European
countries. 1t is quite impossible to say
in how many countries u old friend
the grounding, or some of his kind,
performs on this day. We all INC OF
his programme how he wakes up and
comes out of his winter bed to look
around the world again. If he can not
see his shadow he plays about, o
ing that his winter sleep is done, Tor
spring is near at hand; if, on the con-
trary, his shadow is visible, he crawls
back again into his hole and covers
himself up for another six-weeks' nap.
In Germany it is the badger who goes
through these gymnastics; in France
and Switzerland it is the marmot; IN
England the hedgehog. The Scandi-
navian fables the bear waking up II
like manner, and seeing the sun shining
, into his den, whereupon he turns Owe
and goes to sleep again, knowing tn
, winter is only half gone. There are NJ
. persons who believe in the ground-ho.
superstition more than the negroes o.
: ! the Southern States, who seem +
have brought the fable, with thei
: tales of "B'rer Rabbit" from the shore
of Africa. 1t is a curious custom hoy
! a natural history fable like this coul
7 appear simultaneously in three cont
nents, and repeat itself interminabl
" through the ages. 1t is not because
has a foundation in exact truth. as on
$ nay easily prove by noting, absolut
: w.ather conditions on this and succeed
9 ing days for a few seasons. And "
people 20 on believing in the fable, an
repeating old saws about it. such 6
1.-the farmer would rather see a VIC
q in his barn than the sun on Candlem'
n Day. LAS far as the sun shines in c
t. the I'd of February, so far the snow W
,e drift in on the I'd of May" and so o
le The only real foundation for this pop
g. lar belief seems to be the general tru
er that pleasant weather in February
Z; temperate latitudes is apt to be followt
IF by a change and a chilly spring. su
an occurrence rouses the canny Scotc
r. man even to some not Overpious uttt
By ances, for he says:
1t, OF a. the months in the year.,
VI Curse q fair Februeer. --
a And his cousin of Wales is even me-
ID emphatic in the matter, saying:
II ! The Welshman would rather see his wife
We her bier,
,is Than a fair Februeer.
'pt st. Louis Globe Democrat