Groundhog day
Post categories: weather
| 15:50 UK time, Monday, 8 February 2010
Last Tuesday was Candlemas Day.... now I know what you're thinkingÌý - that was last week but read on - It will all become clear :)
Candlemas is a traditional Christian festival and it was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to people. A lighted candle was placed in churches and windows to brighten up the dark winter nights.
In Pagan times, it was known as the 'feast of lights' and celebrated the increase in the strength of the sun between the winter solstice in December and the spring Equinox in March.
In the United States and Canada, Candlemas Day is better known as 'Groundhog Day' - made famous by the film starringÌýBill Murray andÌýAndie MacDowell.
Some people believe that the weather on Candlemas Day can tell us what the rest of the winter will be like and there's an old rhyme:
'If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another fight but if Candlemas Day be clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.'
Well, last Tuesday it rained so the worst of winter must surely be over. If only it were that simple!
It has turned colder today and it is going to stay cold for the rest of this week with north easterly winds.
There will be a few light wintry showers at times but on the whole plenty of dry weather but some sunshine and frost too.
The cold spell looks set to last into next week as well with a risk of more snow.
Derek
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