34 CANDLEMAS TIDE. 



FEB. 3. St. Blaze, bishop of Sebaste, a.d. 316. 



St. Anscharius, bp. of Hamburg and Bremen, 865. 



St. Wereburge, virgin abbess in 7th century. 



St. Margaret of England. 



06s. St. Blaze was Bishop of Sebaste, and suffered martyrdom 

 in the persecution of Licinius in 316 by command of the governor 

 of Cappadosia. The Greek church keep the festival on tlie 11th of 

 February. St. Blaze has been called the Patron of the Wool- 

 combers, because they choose his day for their festival. His reliques 

 were held in high estimation. 



St. Anscharius was a monk of Corbie in France, celebrated for 

 his preaching. 



St. Wereburge is Patroness of the city of Chester, and was the 

 daughter of Wulfere, king of ^lercia, by St. Erminilda, the daughter 

 of the King of Kent, in the seventh age of the Church. 



St. Margaret of England is said to have embraced the Cistercian 

 Order. Among the nuns of that Order at Scauve she is held in 

 high estimation, and her body was preserved entire in their church. 



The festival of St. Blaze was extensively kept, and processions 

 with candles used to be made on it similar to those of Candlemas. 

 At Bradford some well known lines are recited today at the Wool- 

 combers feast. 



Indian Bay Laurus indica recorded today. 

 Great Water Moss Fontinalis antepyretica found. 



I find this plant recorded under today, and also Laurus Indica 

 called Shrub of St. Margaret of England. 



If frosty weather sets in again about this time with a bright 

 Candlemas, it often constitutes a second winter. In the present 

 year 1827, the early spring frost lasted till the '23d of February. 

 The following are expressive lines on the weather of this time of 

 year, which is sometimes very rainy, when we have what is called a 

 Candlemas Flood : 



Now old Aquarius from his rainie urne 



Pours out the streams, and fills both Loch and Burne, 



While Februa, with waterie load opprest. 



Cracks the crimp ice on Winter's frozen breast ; 



'J hen seated on some sunnie Brae she strowes 



About her feet the Snowdrop and Primrose. 



