Also known as "Our Lady's Lilies" snowdrops are still sometimes used to decorate a Lady Chapel for Candlemas perhaps there will be a "Candle Mass".
If snowdrops, the superstition says, are in flower by Candlemas the worst of the winter is over but...
If Candlemas day be dry and fair
The half o' winters to come and mair (more)
If Candlemas day be wet and foul
The half o' winter's gane (gone) at Yule.
Traditional
Today it's warm for the time of year in London
I love snow drops. Wonderful saying!
Happy Candlemas!
As a non-formal ritual Christian (I'm Quaker-like in theology), I wonder about Candlemas. It is interesting that candles are blessed in the darkest time of the year.
In medieval times, most people would have burnt through much of the candles that they made in the prior year. People would be more in darkness as the daylight advances earlier and earlier. The imagery is interesting. :)
I found an order of service (online, not UK) a few years back when I was looking for more information. The weather lore is fascinating (and can be summarised as "A green Christmas makes a full churchyard"). You may be interested in looking at some of the Celtic associations (if you already know this I apologise), such as Imbolc.
Candlemas is a Scottish quarter day too (again I apologise of you are already aware).
I love snowdrops, they speak to me of hope and new beginnings.
Our village churchyard, where DH's ashes are buried is full of them at the moment.
I love that they are sometimes called Our Lady's Lilies. And I loved your "Nunc dimmitis"
To just add too a few of the other post in this discussion of Candlemas aka Imbolc is in many ways just Christianity "stealing" another pagan/wiccan festivals/holidays/religious touchpoint. As a former Catholic, Candlemas was always one of those times that was an curious "ooookay" thing for me also. Once I learned of Imbolc and its meaning and timing as the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, when the sunlight is becoming more noticeable and gaining more time quicker, the meaning and timing of it being celebrated as Candlemas' clicked. It also appeals to my Celtic ancestors/ancestry (Irish, Scots & Welsh)
Quote from: JudithR on February 03, 2024, 02:55:54 PMI love that they are sometimes called Our Lady's Lilies. And I loved your "Nunc dimmitis"
Thank you. I'm hoping that my inspiration for writing again will come back before too long.