The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (74 page)

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CANDLEMAS day, put beans in the clay, put candles and candlesticks away
.

 
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never CHOOSE your women or your linen by candlelight
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In the Church calendar, the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary and the Presentation of Christ in the Temple falls on 2 February, which is known as Candlemas Day because candles are blessed at church services on that festival. In North America, 2 February is popularly known as Groundhog Day; the very similar weather prediction associated with it arises through the notion that if the groundhog emerges from its burrow on that day into bright sunlight and is frightened by its own shadow it will go back for a further six weeks' hibernation. The superstition was known from at least as early as the early sixteenth century: cf.
1523
SKELTON
Works
I. 418 Men were wonte for to discerne By candlemas day what wedder shulde holde. Quot. 1584's version of the rhyme is close to the Latin lines in quot. 1678.
1584
Witchcraft
XI. xv.
If Maries purifieng daie, Be cleare and bright with sunnie raie, The frost and cold shalbe much more, After the feast than was before.
1678
English Proverbs
(ed. 2) 51
If Candlemas day be fair and bright Winter will have another flight: If on Candlemas day it be showre and rain, Winter is gone and will not come again. This is a translation .. of that old Latin Distich;
Si Sol splendescat Maria purificante
,
Major erit glacies post festum quam fuit ante
.
1906
Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady
(1977) 13
If Candlemas Day be fair and bright Winter will have another flight But if Candlemas Day be clouds and rain Winter is gone and will not come again.
1980
Times
2 Feb. 11
Today is Candlemas Day. So let us see if the old legend holds good again as it did last year. ‘If Candlemas day be sunny and bright, winter will have another flight; if Candlemas day be cloudy with rain; winter is gone and won't come again.’
weather lore

 
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For
Candlemas Day
see preceding proverb.
1678
English Proverbs
(ed. 2) 344
On Candlemas day throw candle and candlestick away.
1876
British Popular Customs
55
From Candlemas the use of tapers at vespers and litanies, which had continued through the whole year, ceased until the ensuing All Hallow Mass .. On Candlemas Day, throw candle and candlestick away.
1948
Still glides Stream
ii.
Broad beans were planted .. on Candlemas Day.
Candlemas Day
,
stick beans in the clay
,
Throw candle and candlestick right away
, they would quote.
1974
Folklore of Cotswolds
ii.
Candlemas Day was the time .. when lights were extinguished … An old rhyme said: Candlemas Day, put beans in the clay: put candles and candlesticks away.
calendar lore
;
garden lore

 
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