Optimism and the Old Ways.

I gather that in the old Celtic calendar, the four seasons began on 1^st February, 1^st May, 1^st August and 1^st November. They were Imbolc (spring), Beltane (summer), Lughnasa (autumn) and Samhain (winter.) They also defined the days as running from sunset to sunset, rather than midnight to midnight as we do now.

It occurred to me earlier, therefore, that if we employ the old Celtic ways, spring began at sunset this evening. Or, looked at another way, tonight’s sunset was the last of the winter. What a pleasant thought, though sadly not very practical. Some of the harshest winter weather I’ve known during my life came in February and early March.

Good news for the confirmed optimist, though, because true optimism doesn’t need a practical base.