Celebrating Phenology

Traditions of celebration and ritual are integral to human culture. They may have started with our ancestors' attempts to ensure that the great Wheel of Time would keep turning, to that end lighting bonfires in the cold depths of winter in order to "call back the sun" so that it will warm the land and bring forth life-giving crops.

Eventually, humankind discovered that the Wheel turns independently of our bonfires, prayers and propitiations.

And yet...

Even though the rodent's shadow fails to accurately predict the week of spring's arrival, even though the relationship of the vernal frolic of bunnies to the resurrection of Christ is tenuous, even though that same Christ's birth would not be near the Winter Solstice if, as the stories tell, shepherds were watching their flocks, we continue to celebrate our beloved annual festivals, feasts and holidays.

Must be in our DNA

Celebrations can be of natural as well as cultural events. Besides birthdates of individuals or countries, besides commemorations of discoveries, laws, human breakthroughs...

we also celebrate:

and other phenological events occurring each year in the world of nature

Here is just a small sampling of festivals worldwide:

These and many more can be found on

Celebrate what's going on outside in nature near you! Do you have a special fondness for a particular plant in bloom, bird you hear, tree bearing fruit or animal you encounter at that time of year? It's fun to explore their symbolism, in books, on the web, or just use your own intuition...

At first glance, Andrews' books do seem pretty new-agey, and some of them are, but here and in Animal Speak he gives scientific information on the species, then relates that to psychology. Don't take his or anyone else's word as gospel, of course. Nature's signs and messages, like dreams, are interpreted variously.

If you're not that into folklore or symbolism (and even if you are) nothing beats a good local Field Guide for learning more about what you've observed on your birthday or any other time.

Maybe your birthday falls on a saint's day. Saints often have a plant or animal associated with them, and weather lore. Here are a few examples:

A riddle for you: