When Does Winter Begin?

Snow in early November? Bittersweet!

And on the same day [November 1] we keep
the feast of All Saints, of those who recently or long ago
worked in the world the will of the Lord.
After that comes Winter’s Day, far and wide,
after six nights, and seizes sun-bright autumn
with its army of ice and snow,
fettered with frost by the Lord's command,
so that the green fields may no longer stay with us,
the ornaments of the earth.

Yesterday we awakened to a blanket of snow over our world and discovered that our three adult kids who live in Toronto, near Lindsay, and in Trenton were all experiencing the same. A little over a week ago I was putting sealant on the driveway in a tee-shirt, two days ago we had what will be our last paddle of 2019, and yesterday I took the last of the leaf bags to the yard-waste depot. Talk about working to the wire!

Now it looks like winter -- is it winter? The modern calendar says no and, absurdly,  autumn persists until December 20th. We all know better, at least just about anywhere in Canada other than the Left Coast. I happened upon a piece yesterday about the Old English calendar which declares November 7th the beginning of winter, which makes a whole lot more sense in Canuckland. Now, that same calendar marks February 6th as the conclusion of the season, which is at least ten weeks shy of reality for us. It does seem to make more sense, though, that the solstice is roughly half-way through the season rather than the beginning. 

The piece notes that there is a theological and spiritual component to the change of seasons, which for me is an acknowledgement of the Creator and a reminder that winter is more than the advent of dicier driving weather to which we refuse to adjust. There is a God-given rhythm to the seasons, although one which humans seem to be altering with breakneck speed. 

As an aging Groundling I seem to be more aware and appreciative of the changing seasons and I'm grateful for all...four, it's four isn't it?...

Read the entire, excellent blog piece here:

https://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2014/11/after-that-comes-winters-day.html


Frost must freeze, fire burn up wood,
the earth grow, ice form bridges,
water wear a covering, wondrously locking up
shoots in the earth. One alone shall unbind
the frost’s fetters: God most mighty.
Winter must turn, good weather come again,
summer bright and hot.