According to popular tradition, January 29, 30 and 31 are considered blackbird days, i.e. the coldest of the year (even if scientifically this is not the case). An ancient legend tells that a white blackbird, to escape the biting cold, took refuge in a fireplace with its young for three days. When he came out, his feathers had turned black from soot. This is why today all blackbirds are black.
In various parts of Italy, peasant traditions linked to the days of the blackbird are still deeply felt, including that of the Canti della Merla, which revives every year in the Cremona area: here two groups, composed respectively of women and men, gather in the churchyard or on the banks of a river to sing popular songs.
The days of the blackbird have also inspired numerous proverbs and nursery rhymes, handed down from generation to generation. Let’s discover some of the most popular ones.
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Blackbird days and spring
“If the blackbird’s days are cold, spring will be mild; if they are warm, spring will arrive late.”
In this case, according to tradition, we need to keep an eye on the temperatures of the last three days of January to understand what spring will be like. It’s a good thing that the blackbird days are cold because they herald a mild spring, while if they are warm there is a risk of a late spring.
“Sing the blackbird ‘n font al zerlo that the winter is over. Te salude padrù” (in Bergamo dialect it means: “The blackbird sings, the winter is over, I greet you master: I find another roof”)
The cold and Candlemas
“When Candlemas comes, we are out of the winter; but if it rains or the wind blows, we are in the winter.”
According to tradition, Candlemas is February 2nd. According to popular beliefs, if this day is cold it means that winter will still be long, while if the weather is good one hopes to be out of winter by now. Candlemas is the day in which, according to Christian tradition, candles are blessed which, with their light, are the symbol of new hope for believers.
March blackbird do not sing
“Blackbird, don’t sing in March, your beak might freeze. Let the tordella sing, she’s not afraid of anyone.”
This Romagna proverb explains that blackbirds should start singing again only with the true arrival of the warmth of spring and should remain sheltered from the cold even at the beginning of March.
When the blackbird sings
“Quand canta al mérel, a san fóra dl’invéren (When the blackbird sings, we are out of winter)”.
According to this proverb in Bologna we wait for the song of the blackbird to understand if we are really out of winter but in some cases this song is deceiving because in reality spring has not yet arrived.
The nursery rhyme about the days of the blackbird
Oh how cold! Oh how cold!
Strong wind and clouds in the sky!
The puddle is frozen,
the gutter froze!
We wear scarves and hats,
beautiful sweaters and great cloaks,
ear muffs and then jackets
tank tops, socks!
But this cold doesn’t go away:
everything is freezing, my mother!
More stinging than a slap:
these are the days of the blackbird!
Jolanda Restano
