An old legend tied to the changing seasons.
On the night between February 1st and 2nd, the eve of the Feast of Candlemas – locally known as Il-Gandlora that’s celebrated today – an old Gozitan legend comes to life.
According to folklore, a bear descends from Gelmus Hill in Victoria, Gozo, roaming the streets in the darkness with its snout lifted to the air, searching for a soul to claim. But this mysterious visit isn’t just a ghostly tale intended to frighten the island’s residents... it’s also a weather omen.
The legend says that if, by dawn, the bear’s paws are wet, it will retreat back to its cave to sleep once more, signalling that winter will linger for another 40 days. If its paws remain dry, however, winter’s grip is finally broken.
In the past, some families would even place lanterns or candles by their doors and windows on this night, a ritual tied to protection, hope and the changing seasons.
The belief lives on in the Maltese-Italian saying:
‘Bnazzi fil-Gandlora xitwa fora, xita fil-Gandlora koranta ġurni ankora.’
In other words: sunshine on Candlemas means winter is over; rain means 40 more days of it.
And if last night’s rain was anything to go by, folklore suggests we may not be done with winter just yet, even if this week’s forecast hints at warmer days ahead.
Which of the two outcomes are you hoping for?