Midwinter
Today is the Pagan holiday of Imbolc, or Midwinter. Most of us just celebrate (or complain about) Groundhog Day. The day is roughly halfway between the Winter Solstice and the First Day of Spring. It is a time when ancient peoples believed that the winter began to show a thawing, a warmth in the soil. Green things began returning. And in some parts of the world, this is true.
But for the United States this year, spring seems awfully far away. The Midwest and Northeast, particularly, have been besieged by very cold weather, much of it sub-zero, and more moisture than usual. The Old Farmer’s Almanac had predicted such weather, but I’m sure that doesn’t make them feel any better about it! I know when I lived there, this was the time when a last hard bit of winter came slamming in, and then suddenly, there was warm and green and flowers.
Here, however, we are not at our climatological midwinter. We won’t be for several weeks yet. We are actually headed into our snowiest, coldest season. We got about 13 inches of snow in the last four days, and while today was sunny and broke 30 degrees (barely), we are in for three snow storms this week. If there are green things growing, we sure won’t be seeing them under the blanket of white! We had a relatively mild January, which was lovely, but we are no fools. Spring is a lot further than six weeks away.
That doesn’t keep me from thinking about spring and summer. I miss my bike rides, for sure. I’m also making plans for my summer garden, thinking about all the fresh produce I will be eating when the time comes. I’m thinking about a day when I don’t wear boots as my primary footwear, and for when I won’t wear two layers of fleece to go outside.
I do enjoy winter. I enjoy all the seasons. I’m grateful that we have seasons here, and that they are distinct. I love watching my daughter play in the snow, I love the look of the bright sunshine and brilliant blue sky against the mounds of white. In spring, I love watching everything bloom and come forth. In summer, I love the bright evenings and outdoor activities. In fall, nothing beats the brilliant golden coins of the Aspen trees as they turn in the mountains. It is all good.
For now, I will spend my “down time” making hearty soups, building warm fires in the fireplace, crocheting a pretty or two, reading a few books from my “I should read this” stack, and enjoying long winter’s naps under the warmth of quilts. If I want green, I’ll stare at my jungle of potted plants vying for sun time in the windows of my home. Spring will be here when she is ready, and summer after that. For now, there are no barbecues, but there are plenty of loaves of fresh, warm bread served with savory, hearty meals, fuzzy slippers, colorful crocheted scarves and snowy mountains to keep me happy.
Happy Groundhog Day!
