20070301 The Present Winter Union Bridge Pilot Feb 27 1920

The Present Winter Union Bridge Pilot Feb 27 1920

March 1^st, 2007

A colleague recently shared with me a quote for whom she could not remember who to credit, “February is the Monday of the year.”

February has never been my favorite month. I so dislike the short days, the cold, ice, and snow.

An old long defunct Carroll County newspaper, the Union Bridge Pilot wrote on February 27^th, 1920, “‘If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion,’ is another weather legend that has been handed down from early times, and is still believed by many.”

Well, let’s hope. For me, spring cannot come soon enough.

The rest of the article reads as follows. I have re-paragraphed it for easier reading. For some reason old newspapers rarely believed in paragraphs…

The Present Winter

Union Bridge Pilot, February 27, 1920.

In commenting on the weather conditions which we have just experienced the Frederick News says the following: "Three weeks of the ground-hog's reign closed Monday. During that time, it has rained 9 times, snowed five times and hailed twice. There were cold, clear and cloudy days and a few warm days.

Yesterday was St. Matthias' day, and having found plenty of ice, according to tradition he broke, and spring is at hand. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of this week are emberdays which rule the weather, for three months.

"If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion," is another weather legend that has been handed down from early times, and is still believed by many.

During the past 12 years, this prophesy has never failed, said one resident yesterday, in speaking about weather legends. "Still another prediction calls for a wintery March. The caterpillar was black at the tail, and this signifies that the latter part of the winter will be the hardest. The only question raised is to decide whether February is to be considered the last of winter. February is really the last winter month, as spring begins the third week in March. The chickens were heavily feathered which called for a hard winter. "

People in discussing the weather predictions for the next month differ on the question as to whether the end of the winter is at hand or whether March must be considered.

According to time worn predictions March of 1920 will be considered a part of this winter, and the hardest part of the winter is ahead. A late spring is looked for, but this is merely supposition on the part of ones making the prophesy."