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February Almanac
February
One of the earliest, and very welcome, signs of spring is the appearance of snowdrops in gardens, woodland and hedgerows across the country. “Chaste snowdrop, venturous harbinger of spring,” wrote Wordsworth. But be careful rejoicing that spring has arrived when the very first flowers appear may be a little premature!
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On a snowdrop walk there will be very few other flowers to be seen - perhaps you may spot some early violets and some catkins of lambs’ tails - the male flowers of the hazel in the hedgerow.
Snowdrops begin to flower when the weather is still decidedly wintry as their leaf tips are tough enough to push up through the frozen ground. Not for nothing are the called perce-neige in France and snow piercers in parts of Britain. Many parts of the country organise snowdrop walks this month - if
you’re in the UK then just click here for a list of some of the best ones across the country. Be sure to wrap up warm if you’re setting out on a walk though as February is renowned for having the most unpleasant weather of the year. Rain and snow are welcomed by the farmers though as they help to prepare the ground ready for the spring sowing. Indeed country folklore welcomes bad weather this month as we are told “If in February there be no rain, ‘tis neither good for hay nor grain.”
Though the first day of February falls less than six weeks after the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, by this day London has gained an extra 53 minutes of daylight between sunrise and sunset - and the days will continue to lengthen faster still as the month progresses. In the cities, on colder days, there are pink evening skies, and by the time the night clouds begin to reflect back the orange
glow of sodium street lamps, the roar of homeward bound traffic fills the winter air. For city dwellers, and those having less contact with the land it seems that nature herself is marking time, slumbering while the winter weather does its worst.
This isn’t true at all though in the countryside as it’s this month that birds begin to pair up - there is a tradition that they choose their mates on Valentine’s Dayand the volume of birdsong will increase throughout the month as they strive to attract mates and defend their territories. If you have pets, then you can give them a hand with their nest building by putting out the hair after grooming, while dried grass, yard strands are also much appreciated. A hanging basket with dead vegetation and moss left over from the previous summer is a wonderful source of nest-building material for many species, but before you pull it apart do be sure that a wren or robin hasn’t already made their home there.
Unlike St Valentine, whose day is so well known and celebrated, St Blaise has fallen from favour. His day falls on February 3 and he was widely popular in Britain from the eighth century until beyond the middle ages. According to stories of his life, while hiding from persecutors in a cave he healed sick people and animals, in particular saving the life of a boy who had a fishbone stuck in his throat. He became the patron saint of woolcombers, an important and widespread occupation before machinery wiped It out. He is now only remembered in a few Catholic
churches where you can get your throat blessed on 3 February. The priest holds two lighted candles, tied with ribbon to form a cross, to the throat of the sufferer and says a blessing over him or her.
On 5 February 1953, the rationing of sweets and chocolate was finally abolished, after more than a decade, and shops throughout the country reported a brisk trade in everything from lollipops to liquorice. Towards the end of WW2 the weekly ration of these delights had dropped to a tiny 2oz per person, though this was gradually increased to a more generous 6oz in the post-war years.
For those of us old enough to remember the media coverage, February 8 brings the anniversary of the kidnapping of the prize stallion Shergar in 1983. He had won the 1981 Derby and was valued at £10m for his breeding potential. A ransom was demanded, but not paid - for fear of encouraging copycat crimes and the horse was never found.
February 22nd brings George Washington’s birthday. Born in Virginia in 1732, by the time the American War of Independence broke out in 1775 he had established a national reputation that secured his appointment as commander-in-chief of the colonial army. After the war was won he turned his attention to politics and became the first President of the USA in 1789. He was elected to a second term in 1793 but resigned in 1797 and died two years later.
Shirley Jackson (119161965)
