If you just can’t wait for spring, you might want to use one of the calendar markers of long-ago Europe and the British Isles. In their traditions, early February marked the end of winter and the start of spring. The days were getting longer and warmer, with the promise of even more sunlight to come.

Early February falls roughly half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Such midpoints are known as cross-quarter days. That means they cross between the quarter days – the solstices and equinoxes.

Early Christians celebrated February 2nd as Candlemas. It was the 40th day of Christmas. People brought their candles to church to have them blessed for the whole year.

In Ireland and Scotland, the February celebration came on the 1st. It was known as Imbolc. The name may indicate the start of lambing season, although it could have other meanings as well.

One of the traditions of Imbolc concerned the weather. If the day was sunny and cold, it meant winter would maintain its icy grip until the equinox, about six weeks away. But if the day was warm and cloudy, then winter was just about over. Some people relied on badgers or other animals to come out of their dens to check out the conditions.

That tradition was carried to the United States by immigrants. And it’s still with us today as Groundhog Day – a modern celebration of a cross-quarter day – one that marked the beginning of spring.

Script by Damond Benningfield