Winter’s warmer heart
by Paul Brown from on (#12JTV)
This is midwinter day, the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. The days are rapidly getting longer, by about four minutes, and it is marked as a significant day in many cultures. February 2 is celebrated by Christians as Candlemas, when the church candles are blessed, and by pagans as the Festival of Light. In America it is Groundhog Day, when this animal's behaviour is said to foretell whether spring is coming.
Related: Weatherwatch: Candlemas and the folklore factor
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