So what’s up with the month of February and RED? We just had Valentine’s Day a week or so ago and that’s all about red. Ever wonder why?
Me, too.
From what I can gather it goes back to ancient times when February was seen as giving the world the first signs of spring. Certainly true here. We’ve just had a snow but there are crocuses and daffodils peaking up already. It’s all about fertility and passion, folks.
The Celts had a festival in early February called Imbolc. It was when they took stock of their stores of food to see what was left to tide them through the last breath of winter, made candles (it’s a festival of light), made bonfires (a festival of fire, too) and the spring lambs were born. I think the name of the festival actually comes from the Celtic words for “lamb’s milk.”
Some years ago when my daughter was attending college in Massachusetts, she worked on the college’s nearby farm. I was taking her back to school and we stopped by to see how the ewes were doing. The farm did not practice a forced breeding program but allowed the sheep to breed naturally and, indeed, they were all giving birth at the same time in early February. We ended up running to and fro helping mamas with their babies, some of whom had trouble removing the birth sac so the newborn lamb could breathe. It was total chaos and total excitement! I will never forget it and will always associate that experience with the “old ways” and the first signs of spring.
The Christian Church adapted Imbolc into their celebrations and it morphed into Candlemas. Held on the same day or thereabouts as the ancient festival, it is again a celebration of light and the day when the candles in the churches were made and readied for the year.
So today I’m sharing my beautiful red and white amaryllis with you. I got it before Christmas but decided to wait and start it in its pot after the holidays were over so it would bloom in the dark days between the holidays and noticeably longer days of spring. It started blooming about a week ago and finally ended up with six (count ‘em, SIX!) gorgeous blooms.
I’m really feeling spring and the color red stirring in my soul. How about you?
Apparently in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations, as well as in India, recognizing Valentine’s Day is forbidden and the police start patrolling the shops to make sure they aren’t selling anything red or associated with Valentine’s Day. They consider the holiday pagan and Christian. Here’s a very interesting explanation for why: http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/valentinesday.htm
I can respect the Islamic religion’s different beliefs, but it seems that businesses can’t cater to non-Muslim customers, a clear restiction of their freedoms.
Interesting history Georgene. I’m a big fan of the color red. And I’m definitely looking forward to Spring!
We got a tease and then, slam, more cold and snow. But this is nothing compared to other parts of the country (I live in Northern AZ). We’re supposed to get a bit more and then, hopefully, more spring tease. I’m ready to start some seeds indoors. I need some GREEN with the RED!
I guess some people fear passion, an essential force of Nature. Red to me is a power color and some systems of belief seek to squelch passion and the power of the individual. Not my thing at all! I’d make a lousy Muslim.
Thank you for this lovely post. I love celebrating Imbolc! Just discovered it two years ago and have completely adopted it. who could not celebrate the midpoint between winter and spring with signs that spring is near?
Now I will take your lead and make sure next year to have an amaryllis – and hopefully in bloom!
If you start it just after the holidays it will probably be in bloom (or close) in early February. I started mine a little later than that and it bloomed closer to Valentine’s Day and kept blooming (6 blooms!) until a couple of days ago. It’s pretty well done now. Mine was nothing special. I got it at a discount store. But there are places where you can get some spectacular ones. I think it would be cool next year to do a few and have them all blooming in February! I’m ready to start some seeds now and I’m going to make a terrarium. I bought a beautiful Victorian repro Wardian case (little glass greenhouse sort of thing) and saw a segment on Martha Stewart’s TV show (I have a love-hate with that woman, but this time it was a “love”) that got me really excited to get one going. When I get it planted I’ll post it on the blog. I can just see little fairy figures frolicking in there someday!
Glad you enjoyed it! Let’s compare amaryllises (amaryllii???) next year!