JohnH wrote:
On 3 Feb 2005 12:33:00 -0800, "basskisser"
wrote:
JohnH wrote:
On 2 Feb 2005 06:54:11 -0800, "basskisser"
wrote:
JohnH wrote:
On 1 Feb 2005 21:03:49 -0800, wrote:
February 2.
Halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Celebrated for thousands of years by most advanced religious
traditions.
Has been westernized as St. Brigid's Day: St Brigid was
supposedly
the
daughter or employee of the inkeeper in Bethlehem.
When Mary and Joseph arrived, the hotel was full and the well
had
gone
dry. The innkeeper left Brigid in charge, with strict
instructions
not
to sell any portion of the meager food and water reserves to
anybody.
According to legend, Brigid obeyed the innkeeper and did not
sell
them
any food or drink-- but she gave freely of her own personal
loaf
of
bread and flask of drinking water. The legend says that after
the
holy
family left to go to the stable, Brigid noticed that her loaf
of
bread,
which had been almost entirely consumed by Mary and Joseph was
fully
restored, and her water flask was brimming with cool, clear
water.
Charming tale.
Also previously known as Candlemass, marking the end of Mary's
ritual
purification period following the birth of Jesus.
Also previously known as a heck of an excuse to party, while
recognizing any number of polytheistic dieties. :-)
Now popularly known as "Groundhog Day." Any of the old stories
are
more
interesting than some tradition about a burrowing animal and a
shadow.
Ought to be a boating holiday. It's halfway between solstice
and
equinox, boating weather and longer daylight hours are
returning
to
the
northern latitudes.
Today would be a beautiful day to be on the Chesapeake Bay.
There
isn't a cloud in the sky, the winds are calm, and the
temperature
is
a
brisk 30 F.
But, Punxsutawney Bill, our local groundhog, says, "Six more
weeks!"
John H
Hehe...would you mean PHIL???
Could be Phil. Hearing loss makes the distinguishing of 'ph' and
'b'
sounds difficult sometimes.
John H
He's been around for years and years, you've never READ about him?
No. I've never really gotten interested in reading a whole lot about
a
ground hog. I did shoot one once. We had it for dinner. Roasted it.
I suppose there are a lot of people who do a lot of reading about
ground hogs. It's unfortunate that I've never been interested in
them.
I did collect stamps though. Have you ever done that. There are a lot
of stamps with ships on them. I guess that'd be boating related, huh?
You *are* a wealth of information.
You have never, ever read anything in the newspaper concerning Phil? Do
you READ the newspaper? Hell, I've heard of him and have never lived
even remotely close to Punxatauny. He's even mentioned in the
newspapers in FL every year.