These last January days and the already February ones we are living are, for many, accompanied by legends and traditions that could give us a clue about when this spring will arrive to our life. Will it be soon or we will have to wait longer? What do you think, you believe what Phil the groundhog says?
In Italy they also have several stories about it.
The most popular one says that the last three days of January, in addition to being considered as the coldest days of the year, are known as the ‘days of the blackbird‘.
And this tradition has it that a white blackbird and her chicks, around this time of the year, got into a chimney to shelter from the cold. They would leave the first day of February, but in such a black color due to the soot that since then all blackbirds are black.
(Actually, we should note that only males are black, cause females are brown!)
Another version says that it was the very winter itself the one who, as a lout, sent cold and ice to Earth every time a beautiful white blackbird went out to find food for her also white chicks. One year, being tired of the antics of winter, gathered supplies to be safe during all the month of January (which at that time, like in Roman times, had 28 days). She left on February 1st singing very happily, thinking that she had managed to outwit the winter.
When winter saw her, it angrily went to ask three more days to February (and that is why now January has 31 days and February only 28) and took revenge on the blackbird, who seeing herself in that situation decided to take shelter in a chimney, leaving a few days later and black forever.
So if the ‘days of the blackbird’ are very cold, with snow and low temperatures, spring will come soon. If, however, the cold weather is normal, spring will have to wait.
Photos: Tony Cox, Tom, 35NW3 and Evelien.
