The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-08
CLOUDY CANDLEMAs.
GROUND HOG FAILED no SEE ITS
SHADOW AND SHORT WINTER
is PREDICTED.

SHADOW AND SHORI WIN / Eh
is PREDICTED.
Saturday, February 2, is Can
dlemas day. This festival com
melnorates the publication OF the
Virgin Mary. 1t is believed to
have been derived from the
Romans. Some writer's assert
that it was copied from the fes-
tival of Februa, the mother of
Mars, when the Pagans were ac-
customed to run aobut the streets
with lighted torches. The year
542. in the reign of Justinian, is
sometimes fixed upon as that OF
it's first celebration. In the year
6S4 Pope Sergius is said to have
converted it from festival OF
mummery into a day of Gods WOr-
ship. The Observances to which
the day owes its name, namely the
lighting of candles, and, in the
Roman Catholic church, the con
secration of the candles which are
to be used during the year for ec-
clesiastical purposes, are sad TO
have an emblematical reference
to the prophecy of Simeon that
the child Jesus should become "a
light to tighten the Gentiles,D
The word February is derived
from the Latin verb februare,
meaning to purify, or from Feb
raa, the Roman festival of gener-
al expiation or lustration, which
was celebrated the latter part OF
this month. The most generally
noted days of February are the
I'd, Candlemas day; the 14th, st.
Valentines dav, and the oath, st.
Matthias.
CandIemas is a day of great
prophecy as to the weather cOndi-
tions during the remainder OF the
winter. There are various old
proverbs relating to the month
and day. "Just so far as the sun
shines in ton Candlemas day
lust so far will the snow blow in"
during the remainder of the
winter). In other words, "lf
die day is dull and dreary one,
then winter is about over. a
bright, clear Candlemas gives the
promise of a good flax year. If
the ground hog is summing him
self on Candlemas he will return
to his winter quarters for four
weeks more Of severe weather
When Drops bang on the fence on
] i,ksladlmas day, icicles will hang
there on the 25th of March. Ii
on the second of February the
goose finds it wet, then the sheep
will have grass on March 20.
Here are some of the we'll known
proverbs about the month:
When the cat in February lies
in the sun she will again creep be-
hind the stove in March. When
the north wind does not blow in
February, it will surely come in
March.
If February gives much snow,
a fine summer it doth fOreshow.
There is always one fine week
in February.
OF all the months in the year,
curse a fair February.
Heavy north winds in February
forebode a fruitful year.
For every thunder with rain in
February, there will be a cold
spell in May.
February rain is only good ia
fill bitches.
February makes a bridge and
March breaks it.-MOnttOr.
John O. Belcher was in town
over Sunday.
Mrs. X. E. Morse is confined to
her bed from a nervous break
down.
Z. j. Libbey has been confined
to the house part of this week
with a severe cold.
II. E. Parker left the middle OF
the week on a business trip tG
Boston and Now York.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hale Matoon oi
Chelsea spent Sunday with heI
mother, Mrs. X. E. Morse.
Miss Inez ROdimon spent the
day, Monday, with Miss Katherine
ROwell, at South Fairlee.