The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-02-04
HE saw HIS SHADOW
Old Sol and Ground Hog Provide
Six Weeks More Winter

II the ground hog slept late this
morning before coming out to recon,
noiter ne undoubtedly saw his shad,
ow, as Old Sol put in his appearance
between 8 and 10 o'clock, and accord.
ing to tradition we are in for six
weeks more of winter We venture
he did not stay out long, as the keen
wind and low temperature. this morn.
ing were anything but pleasant.
All believers In the ground hog
agree as to his manner of foretelling
the weather, but they do not all agree
as to the time when he appears.
Some tenaciously cling TO the idea
that the little animal makes his sur.
vey February 2, while others as te-
nasiciously hold that he comes up to
take weather squint February IA, or
on st. Valentines day.
The only way to settle this dispute
| is to delye back into folklore and
mythology when it is really seen that
Feb. 2 is the true ground hog day,
But 1t is quite easy to see how the
people have become confused in their
dates: Our ancestors were in the
habit of keeping twoA nigh old feast
days during the month of February.
They borrowed these festivities from
the Romans, who conquered England
about the time Of the birth OF Christ
The first feast was in honor of Febru-
us, mother Of Mars, and the second
was in honor of Lupurculus, which oc-
Cured on Feb, IA There was much
feasting on both these days, and the
celebrations were as sumptuous and
as lively as possible for the roistering
participants to make them.
Februus' day was considered the
turning point of winter, and en- that
day great quantity of candles were
burned. At Lupurcalia it was thought
| tlat birds and animals mated and the
eustcm Of drawing names whereby
single men obtained wives was wide
ly prevalent. The feat was in honor
Of fertility, and it was thought that
unions formed on that day were par,
ticularly fruitful ones.
Origin Of the Day.
But when Europe became Chris
tianized the masses, Of. the people
were determined to Keep up theiI
feasting on these two great days. Ths
religious leaders also saw that Il
would not do to let them pay rever
ence to heathaT gods so they hit upor
Z. - & g g
/ i SsaGpy expedfenf. IN the ipSss- J in
Febriius dHy they appointed a feas
/ of the church called Candlsmasf ane
Lupilrcalla was changed to st. Val
entines day. The people, however
persisted upon professions and burn
ing candles on the day and the draw.
ing of names, so from that time on
| the days had new meanings.
The scriptures say that forty days
after the birth of Christ the Virgin
Mary took the infant Jesus to the
temple and Simeon took the child in
his arms and prophesied that he
should be a light unto the Gentiles
and the glory of Israel" Taking
Christmas, the birthday of Christ, the
day he was brought to the, temple
would have been Feb. 2. The church
chose to celebrate this temple visit
rather than keep heather goddess
festival. The new feast day was va
riously called St. Simeon's day,
Wives feast day, Presentation day,
Publication day and Cfirost's Pre-
sentation. Fradually these, were su-
parseded by the name which yet pre-
walls in Catholic and Episcopalian
communities, which is Candlemas
day.