Winter in the United States is a time of year that is rich with history, folklore, and traditions. It is a time of storytelling, traditions, and shared community. Many of these traditions are still alive today and have their roots in our history stretching back hundreds of years. In today's article, we’re going to explore some of those traditions and pieces of folklore. Some of which you may be familiar with and some may be new to you. If you have any of your own folklore or traditions that you’d like to share, please give us a shout in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.
The Furriest Weatherman: The Legend Of Groundhog Day
If you were to describe what happens each year on Groundhog day to a foreigner, they would probably think that you are either trying to play a joke on them or that we Americans have gone a little crazy. The reality is that we don’t really have ourselves to blame. This quirky tradition actually originates in Germany and was brought here by settlers who ended up in the Pennsylvania religion, aka the Pennsylvania Dutch. In their homeland, they used a hedgehog to help “predict” the end of winter while in the US, since hedgehogs aren’t native here, they had to use a groundhog instead.
The Legend of the Yule Log
The Yule log tradition has deep roots in European winter celebrations and remains popular across the United States today. Traditionally, families would burn a large log in the fireplace during the winter solstice, symbolizing warmth, protection, and good fortune for the year ahead.
Today, the tradition continues in many homes as a cozy holiday ritual. Some families still burn a log, while others celebrate with a decorative Yule log cake (our favorite!) or even a televised fireplace to bring warmth and comfort to the season.
The Woolly Bear Weather Forecast
So you thought that groundhogs and hedgehogs were the only cute animals who could predict the weather? Well, you’re wrong! Here in the US, present in nearly every state, we have a caterpillar that is cute and furry (for a while at least) and it was long thought that by observing the presence and placement of a brown stripe on its back you could predict how mild or severe the upcoming winter season was going to be. While not scientifically proven, this tradition continues to spark curiosity and conversation each fall and winter.
Polar Plunges: A Chilly Start to the New Year
Well, one thing you can do to entertain yourself in the long, dreary winter months is to do as the Polar Bears do: take a refreshing plunge! Each year, many people will gather at a local lake or oceanside beach to take the plunge, literally, into the freezing water. It is said to have powerful health benefits as well as providing a great excuse to warm up right afterwards with a hot cup of cocoa.
Conclusion
We hope that this article about winter traditions and folklore across the United States was useful to you. If you want to make a purchase, schedule one of our window covering experts for a FREE estimate and more information by calling the office at 208-888-1056. If you have any questions about purchasing some awesome commercial blind or window covering work, or any other window covering related issue, we would love to hear from you. Contact us today to get started.