Scottish Poetry Selection
- Candlemas Day
These days, many people wouldn't know when Candlemas Day should be, unless it was printed in their diary. But in days gone by, it was a "Scottish Quarter Day" when agricultural and other rents were paid, so everyone knew that it was 2 February. Being at a time when the calendar was heading for Spring, certain superstitions grew up about the day, as this poem (still widely repeated in Scotland) shows.
Candlemas Day
If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,
Half the winter's to come and mair.
If Candlemas Day be wet and foul,
Half o' winter's gane at Yule.Meaning of unusual words:
mair=more
Yule=Christmas
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
