The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-02-01
GROUND HOG DAY, TUESDAY.

GROUND HOG DAY, TUESDAY.
Tomorrow is Candlcmas day. or.
Ground Hog day, as 81 is more gen
orally known IL is the day that Is
suppose. to mark the turning point
between winter and spring, but
whether spring comes or winter stays
longer depends ON sunshine and shad-
ow and the little ground hog. At least
so say the old time prophets, and
while the experts of the weather bu.
roau and the agricultural department
sniff AT such prophecies as being
groundlcss suporstitions. the ground
hog will not lack millions Of dovo-
tees tomorrow. For is it not written
in the old jingle:
AS far as tn" sun shines out on
Candlomas day,
So far will the snow blow in before
May
As far ms the snow blows in on
Canllnmas day,
So far will the sun shine out before
May"
| u all depends upon the weather
on that day and the little ground
/ hog as 10 what the weather for the
next six weeks will be. The ground
| hog. II when ne energies from his
winter hibernating place, chances to
see his shadow. he will beat hasty
retreat 10 his little hole and wait
meteorological change is due But #
/ II Is dark and gloomy when he
rmcrgcs and he sees no shadow the
/ little animal will figure that winter
/ Is almost gone and that above ground
is the place for him. II is the habit
! Of the ground hog that gave this
/ feature of custom otherwise so
different
The custom was instituted by Celia
sius In the latter part of the fif.
tenth century. In many respects II
rcsembled some Of the pagan cclebra
tions and particularly that Of the
pagan FcbrualIa, which was held at
about this same period
In fact. the Candlcmas day cclebra
tlon is substitution Of the Februalia
which furnishes the only logical rea-
son for the use Of the candles I'm the
festivities attendant.
February has been dedicated to the
Internal gods by the Gcntiles be.
cause at irs beginning Pluto stole
Prospcriuc and her mother; Ceres
sought and rescued her at night ana
carrie. lighted candles The Febru
ALA celebration was in honor OF
Ceres aud the cclcbrants carried
lighted candles, too
The holy fathers tried to stop the
celebration but failed and dccreed
that which had been done unto Ceres
should be- done unto the Virgin. This
is how the festival came 10 be known
as the Purifca'ion of the BLESSED
Virgin During the Middle Ages II
was also a favoritc time for the cere
mony among Christian mothers anala
) gous TO the Greek presentation in the
temple
with the reformation though came
a reaction against the custom am
from that time since 81 has lost the
greater part Of its religious aspect
even ia the Latin countries. In
1854 John Ball issued proclama
ton declaring that too much honor
was being done 10 the virgin and
that the honor done unto her shouk
be done unto Christ This brought
D. the character of the celebration
back to its Greek meaning
II is from England, Germany an.
' scotland though that the Grount
Hog day custom comes. There IN,
day is observed as one OF celehra
' tion In some parts. but omstly a DAY
for weather prognosticotions Man,
Of the rhymes that one hears abou
thc day are from the English an
the Scotch. In Scotland on this da,
1t is custom for the children t,
O. bring presents 10 the teachers Eacl
tries to rival the other in the amoun
of the gift and the boy and cir
that give the most costly ones ar,
haiicd as king and queen Schoo
is then dismissed and the children
march through the village streets car
Ying thS king and queen upon thci'
! shoulders
----------, TO
Among other pipe lines are those
Il written In favor OF smoking.