title="Baldons Parish Council in Oxfordshire">

From the Vicar Feb 2025

From Rev Emma Firth

 

According to the meteorological calendar, February is the last month of Winter in the UK. But if you prefer to use the astronomical calendar, centred around equinoxes and solstices, then Spring begins around 20th March. Regardless of which date you prefer, I can remember at least two years in the last twenty when we had snow in Oxfordshire in April!

 

If you wanted to keep your Christmas cheer going through the wintery month of January, you could revert to the older Christian tradition of keeping your festive decorations up until the beginning of February. Contemporary traditions compel us to end the Christmas season on 5th January (“twelfth night”) which is the Eve of the Festival of Epiphany, when Christians celebrate the arrival of the Magi (wise men) to see the baby Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In the Christian calendar, the season of Christmas-Epiphany actually ends on 2nd February with Candlemas, which is also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, based on an ancient Jewish custom for women, following childbirth.

 

This 17th-century poem is a reminder of the superstition of goblins coming your way - not on the twelfth night - but on the Eve of Candlemas:

 

Ceremony Upon Candlemas Eve, Robert Herrick (1591-1674)*

Down with the rosemary, and so
Down with the bays and misletoe;
Down with the holly, ivy, all
Wherewith ye dress'd the Christmas hall;
That so the superstitious find
No one least branch there left behind;
For look, how many leaves there be
Neglected there, maids, trust to me,
So many goblins you shall see.

 

In our busy modern lives, I wonder if families with school-age children prefer to take all the decorations down early to bring some semblance of order and tidiness before the new school term starts! In medieval times,

 

Candlemas was a great feast, and the name derives from the tradition of bringing candles for use in the coming year to church to be blessed, alongside candlelit processions in honour of the feast. Christians use candles all year round to symbolise Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. There are some wonderful customs associated with Candlemas from flipping crêpes in France whilst holding a gold coin to dressing as bears and eating honey in Hungary. Many customs around the globe include food and activities for children. Candlemas bell flowers (Snowdrops) have been appearing in sheltered areas since the beginning of January.

In Hungary, folklore says that if the bears come out of hibernation on 2nd February and it is sunny, they are frightened by their shadows and go back to their dens to sleep longer, but if there is no light from the sun, they stay out because winter will soon end. This resembles the paradoxical weather prediction from Catalonia that bad weather at Candlemas signals imminent good weather and vice versa.

 

This tradition was taken to some regions of the US and Canada and adapted to ‘Groundhog Day’. You may know the multi-award-winning and still popular film of the same name, released in 1993. The main character Phil is a cynical weatherman sent to cover the Groundhog Day celebrations in a US town and becomes stuck in a time loop. Initially, Phil uses the repeats to manipulate events for his self-indulgence and own satisfaction but gradually changes to learning new skills. After unspecified, but innumerable repeats of waking up on 2nd February, he learns how to use the time to benefit others. The monotonous time loop is finally broken when instead of manipulating Rita to win her over, he wins her over through selfless acts and genuine care for others.

 

The film was created as a feel-good comedy, but part of its ongoing appeal is the philosophical messages within the storyline. Phil is transformed from a cynical, grumpy, self-engrossed egotist who finally begins to use the time to improve himself, learn new skills and help others, thus giving his life meaning and purpose. In the end, it is Phil’s authentic love for Rita that saves him from the time loop.

 

The story of Christmas is a story of love – the unconditional love of God for his people – every one of us. As the long season of Christmas-Epiphany ends on 2nd February, the Christian calendar begins to point towards the seasons of Lent and Easter, which continue the story of God’s selfless love through Jesus Christ.

 

Revd Emma Firth

 

 

We are currently in a period of clergy vacancy in the Baldons and

Nuneham Courtenay, with the recruitment process under way to find our new vicar.

 

Our services continue as usual and are being led by vicars from around the Dorchester team.

 

A clergy person can always be reached by contacting the Dorchester Team Office on 01865 340007

or at admin@dorchester-abbey.org.uk

 

Our safeguarding officer is Sara McDouall: saramcdouall@gmail.com

*https://allpoetry.com/poem/14327903-Ceremony-Upon-Candlemas-Eve-by-Robert-Herrick