Last week, it was Chinese New Year. This week, it's Groundhog Day and Dia de la Candelaria."Good morning. Did you bring the tamales?" That's how I was greeted by more than one student when we shook hands this morning. Yes . . . well, Mrs. D. did, as did our student who found the baby January 6th. The person who finds the baby on Kings' Day is responsible for bringing tamales to the party on Candelaria, or Candlemas. 40 days after Christmas, Candelaria marks the day Jewish law prescribed that the baby Jesus would be taken to the temple. On this day in Mexico, many families celebrate by dressing the baby Jesus from their Nativity scenes and taking him to the church to be blessed. The term "Candlemas" refers to the practice of priests blessing beeswax candles on this day, to be used throughout the year.
Today also marks the mid-point between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, hence the association with weather predictions for the second half of winter. Originally, German tradition held that on Candlemas Day a hedgehog would predict the weather. When German settlers came to Pennsylvania, they decided that the groundhog, which resembled the European hedgehog, would serve well for the tradition. In the United States, all eyes now turn to Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day. Six more weeks of winter!
What we're reading:
Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather by Bruce Koscielniak
Go to Sleep, Groundhog! by Judy Cox
Gregory's Shadow by Don Freeman
Chinese New Year (Rookie Read-About Holidays) by David Marx
Celebrating Chinese New Year by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith
Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn
Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year by Kate Waters
Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim
The Cable Car and the Dragon by Herb Caen
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