February: Candlemas Blessings, Romantic Frosts of Valentine’s, and Shrovetide Festivities

During Shrovetide celebrations, you can check out various old folk sayings related to the weather. At Kudy z nudy, we provide great tips for Shrovetide from all over our country. You’ll discover ancient traditions and have fun with the festivities, including pig slaughtering, contests for the best Shrovetide mask, local entertainment, and, naturally, masquerade parades. For instance, you might want to attend the carnival at the Kouřim open-air museum, enjoy the carnival processions in the Hlinecko region, which is recognized by UNESCO, or visit the carnival at the open-air museum in Veselý Kopec.

February weather lore

What greens appear in February are defended in March; what greens appear in April will be burned in May. This is just one saying about the weather in February. There are many other sayings and predictions for this shortest month of the year. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• • A snowy February suggests rich fields.

• • Even if February is full of frost, it will reveal what lies ahead.

• • If February is warm, the entire year will be lackluster.

• • If February clears the skies, March will create the snowmen.

• • When it starts to melt early, the melting won’t last long.

Just like in January’s weather folklore, you’ll find animals featured in February’s sayings too. For example:

• • If you hear mosquitoes buzzing in February, expect a harsh March.

• • If a cat basks in the sun during February, it will probably hide behind the stove in March.

• • When the lark sings in February, it indicates a prolonged winter.

• • If February possessed as much strength as January, it would allow a calf to freeze inside its mother.

Candlemas and Saint Blaise

The second day of February marks Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which is often celebrated by blessing and lighting candles. These candles serve more purposes than just providing protection during storms; they are also used for caring for the seriously ill. Furthermore, it was believed that confessing on Candlemas could help one avoid a fear of lightning for a whole year.

Candlemas comes with its own set of weather sayings. One of the well-known rhymes states on Candlemas, an hour more, which highlights the almost hour-long difference in sunset times from New Year’s Day to Candlemas, but there are more:

• • If it’s stormy and snowy on Candlemas, spring is just around the corner.

• • If it rains on Candlemas, winter will last a long time.

• • A green Candlemas suggests a white Easter.

• • If a badger emerges from its burrow on Candlemas, it will return in four weeks.

The day following Candlemas is St. Blaise’s feast, which brings another set of predictions and weather sayings:

• • If the weather is nice on St. Blaise’s Day, expect a plentiful potato harvest.

• • On St. Blaise’s Day, the lark will drink from the track.

• • On St. Blaise’s Day, the sun is still not warm.

Shrovetide celebrations

People who believe in weather lore should be mindful of the weather conditions during Shrovetide, which includes Fat Thursday, Shrove Sunday, Shrove Tuesday, and Ash Wednesday. Common beliefs say that “if doughnuts are eaten in the sun, painted eggs will be cooked on the stove,” “if long icicles hang during Shrovetide, there will be a prosperous year for flies,” or that “if the sun shines on a wild Shrove Tuesday, the wheat and rye will thrive well.”.

We will need to see if the saying holds that the weather on Ash Wednesday will be the same for the rest of the year.

Valentine’s Day frosty sweets

If you are celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14 and taking advantage of romantic tips from Kudy z nudy, you should be aware that the weather at this time often doesn’t favor romantic strolls. Before Valentine’s Day hits, we experience what is referred to as Valentine’s winter, a harsh cold in February that can chill you deeply. There is a 65% chance that the cold will peak on Valentine’s Day, which is reflected in numerous sayings:

• • On St. Valentine’s Day, even the mill’s wheel freezes.

• • St. Apollonia (February 9) is usually covered in fog.

• • On Saint Apollonia’s Day, keep your room warm.

• • On Saint Scholastica’s Day (February 10), wear a cap on your head.

• • On Saint Gregory’s Day (February 13), the frost becomes severe and damages everything.

However, just two days later, everything shifts: with a 70% chance, the arrival of Saint Juliana on February 16 brings a period known as Julian warming, marking a swift end to the freezing conditions and fog. Our ancestors had their sayings:

• • When the sun shines on the trees on Saint Julian’s Day, there will be many apples.

• • On Saint Julian’s Day, get your cart ready and put away your sled.

• • Saint Julian calls the farmer to start plowing.

Peter’s winter and Saint Matthew, who breaks the ice

However, winter certainly isn’t ready to leave in February. This is shown by what is known as Peter’s winter, a sudden shift in temperatures that takes place around St. Peter’s Day, which is celebrated on February 22. Though not extremely common, there are folk sayings that discuss it:

• • St. Peter’s Day does not signal the end of winter.

• • It won’t warm up before Peter’s Day.

• • On Saint Polycarp’s Day (February 23), the ditches are generally filled with snow.

On February 24, which is St. Matthew’s Day, a chaotic transition between winter and warmth is confirmed. He is believed to have the power to end winter, bring warm rays of spring, and help melt away the ice and snow. Here are some associated sayings:

• • The frost on St. Matthew’s Day evening and night will last for 40 days.

• • It is warm enough on St. Matthew’s Day to only need a shirt.

• • On St. Matthew’s Day, a farmer who does not sow is foolish.

• • After St. Matthew’s Day, the fox will not be seen on the ice.

• • St. Catherine loves winter, while St. Matthew washes it away.

• • Good Saint Matthew – take off your warm coats!

• • Saint Matthew opens the earth for spring.

• • Saint Matthew breaks the ice.

February folk sayings are rich with poetic charm, humor, and the wisdom of those who came before us. Even though we may no longer shape our daily lives around these sayings, they continue to remind us of old traditions and the bond between humans and nature. Celebrations like Candlemas, the frosty weather around Valentine’s Day, and Shrovetide festivities give February its distinct flavor within the annual cycle.

And remember, with Saint Matthew’s arrival, comes the Matějská pouť fair in Prague, pushing winter away! Hooray, spring is just around the corner