Village Country Diary Snowdrops


Cherry plum


Young goose grass


Pussy willow


ably based on the practical reason that you didn’t want babies born at harvest time when everybody was needed in the fields. With abstinence also required dur-


ing Lent, which starts in late February or early March, it didn’t give you much time! However, it does reinforce the ancient fertility aspect of this early start to spring. Probably the suc- cess of St Valentine’s Day on February 14 is due to its being established dur- ing this time. The wassailing or bless- ing of apple trees in February is also a fertility custom. It was believed that birds mated on St Valentine’s Day, and many do start at this time. When Christianity took over the Im- bolc festival as Candlemas, it was the


commemoration of the Churching of Mary. Churching was the ceremony by which women returned to society after a period of protection after giv- ing birth – once more a return from a period of abstinence. In Irish legend, St


Brigid was a helper of Mary. She had helped Mary and Joseph escape from Herod’s sol- diers, and now helped her get to the temple with the baby for purification. Both times she did this by distracting people


by dancing before them with a fiery crown of candles. As a reward, Mary gave her the eve of Candlemas as her day, though really of course Brigid’s Day had been there long before Candlemas! You may have seen St Brigid’s crosses woven out of reeds, com- memorating her day. Brigid’s colours are traditionally green and white. More prosaical-


Garlic mustard


ly, Candlemas was a time of length- ening days when


you didn’t need your candles during the day


continues overleaf The Village February 2017 43


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68