Helmikuu

The Finnish name for February (’helmikuu’, pearl-month) comes from icy pearls that can be seen on the branches of trees after weather changes suddenly from thaw to frost. In South-Western Finland it was said that ”the forest has ice pearls”. In Eastern Finland the forest was said to have ”splashes”, and in further west ”hazel grouse eyes”. This weather observation was important because it was calculated that the ripening of rye would take place 200 days after the first mid-winter thaw.

February is the second of the mid-winter months, or the ’little oak’ (pikkutammi) after the ’big oak’ (meaning tammikuu, January). In Eastern Finland the month has also been called ’kaimalo’ or ’kaimal-month’. The name comes from the fact that the ’little oak’ is January’s little namesake, or ’kaima’, hence the diminutive ’kaimalo’.

February was considered rather malevolent when compared to its older brother. February does not, however, manage to be as cold as January, although he certainly tries. ”When I freeze with my other eye, the other one pours water”, February laments.

Nevertheless, weather is certainly cold in February. The coldest days of winter are usually around early February in southern Finland, and during the last days of January in northern Finland. February is also known for its snowfall and blizzards. Long warm periods were not well received by the people because they were said to predict long, cold spring. It was said that if February gives easy days, March will take them back.

Towards the end of mid-winter more and more signs of spring could be seen and forecasts made based on them. If potted plants began to grow already in February, one could expect early spring. Same prediction could be made if the cat came into heat on the early February days. Frosty and misty February mornings, in turn, predicted cold weather for the summer.

February was the time for continuing the mid-winter tasks. Trees were cut for firewood and construction material, and fishnets weaved. It was said that the nets should be placed in the lake during the new moon in February. There are no major feasts in February before the Shrovetide. Matti’s Day at the end of the month, however, is an important milestone for spring, and has been also called the first spring day.