January 29, 2025

Days of the Blackbird and the Coming of Persephone

Mythological Scene with the Rape of Persephone, early 1680s,
oil on canvas, Luca Giordano, The National Gallery
"Nature, as such, has become extinct in our century. Only in the art of previous centuries do we discover, to our astonishment, that nature is not just a simple physics experiment operated by industrious little organisms." ~ Nicolás Gómez Dávila, The Authentic Reactionary
In Italy, the last three days of January (29th-31st) are known as I giorni della merla or the days of the blackbird. Rooted in folklore, it refers to a number of old legends about a family of blackbirds and the coming of spring. In the Anglosphere, it is often referred to as Italy’s cousin to Groundhog Day. Continue reading