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| 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.
There are several variations of the fable, one of which recalls how the freezing birds petitioned St. Peter for warmth. Moved by their suffering, the great saint granted them three clement days so they could make provisions and survive the hardships of the remaining winter.
In another version, the month of January (once only 28 days long) was jealous of the birds singing, so he stole three days from his younger brother February to subject the poor creatures to more inclement weather. Originally the birds were white as snow, but after taking refuge in a chimney their plumage was forever turned black from the soot. Now they no longer have difficulty finding each other in snowstorms.
Sometimes January is replaced by the allegorical figure of the Apennines, a colossal stony giant who unleashes his wrath against the blackbirds with blistering winds and a torrential downpour of rain, sleet or snow.
The way the story was told to me, however, was quite different. While entertaining and imaginative, I get the impression these are later retellings of a much older tale from Magna Graecia.
According to legend, Hades, king of the underworld, fell in love with and wanted to marry Persephone/Kore, the goddess of spring and rebirth. Daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and harvest, she was captured while picking flowers in a field in Enna, Sicily. Emerging from a gaping black chasm on his golden chariot drawn by four horses, Hades carried off his bride back to his dark realm.
Learning of her daughter’s abduction, Demeter in her anguish caused all plant life to wither and die. Fearing life on Earth would soon disappear, Zeus quickly dispatched Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to the underworld and negotiated Persephone/Kore’s release.
Agreeing to allow her to return, Hades offered his new bride a pomegranate for luck. After eating four seeds (the number varies), she was speedily whisked away to see her anxious mother. However, having partaken of the sacred fruit she was now bound to the underworld and obligated to come back to her husband four months out of the year, thus the creation of the seasons. Now, the Earth gradually grows cold and barren when mother and daughter are separated and warm and bountiful when they are reunited.
Emerging from their nests as the weather changes, the blackbirds serve as cheerful harbingers for the long-awaited return of Persephone/Kore from the land of the dead to her mother Demeter each Spring.
It is said, that when the weather is mild on these three days, winter would continue well into February. If, on the other hand, the days are cold and biting, winter would soon come to a close. So, pay heed to the next three days dear friends and enjoy (if we are so lucky) the cheerful song of the blackbirds, because sooner or later, as the story goes, the queen of the underworld will return and in her train spring will arrive.
~ Giovanni di Napoli, January 28th, Feast of Sant’Agnese
There are several variations of the fable, one of which recalls how the freezing birds petitioned St. Peter for warmth. Moved by their suffering, the great saint granted them three clement days so they could make provisions and survive the hardships of the remaining winter.
In another version, the month of January (once only 28 days long) was jealous of the birds singing, so he stole three days from his younger brother February to subject the poor creatures to more inclement weather. Originally the birds were white as snow, but after taking refuge in a chimney their plumage was forever turned black from the soot. Now they no longer have difficulty finding each other in snowstorms.
Sometimes January is replaced by the allegorical figure of the Apennines, a colossal stony giant who unleashes his wrath against the blackbirds with blistering winds and a torrential downpour of rain, sleet or snow.
The way the story was told to me, however, was quite different. While entertaining and imaginative, I get the impression these are later retellings of a much older tale from Magna Graecia.
According to legend, Hades, king of the underworld, fell in love with and wanted to marry Persephone/Kore, the goddess of spring and rebirth. Daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and harvest, she was captured while picking flowers in a field in Enna, Sicily. Emerging from a gaping black chasm on his golden chariot drawn by four horses, Hades carried off his bride back to his dark realm.
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| The Return of Persephone, ca. 1891, oil on canvas, Frederic Leighton, Leeds Art Gallery |
Agreeing to allow her to return, Hades offered his new bride a pomegranate for luck. After eating four seeds (the number varies), she was speedily whisked away to see her anxious mother. However, having partaken of the sacred fruit she was now bound to the underworld and obligated to come back to her husband four months out of the year, thus the creation of the seasons. Now, the Earth gradually grows cold and barren when mother and daughter are separated and warm and bountiful when they are reunited.
Emerging from their nests as the weather changes, the blackbirds serve as cheerful harbingers for the long-awaited return of Persephone/Kore from the land of the dead to her mother Demeter each Spring.
It is said, that when the weather is mild on these three days, winter would continue well into February. If, on the other hand, the days are cold and biting, winter would soon come to a close. So, pay heed to the next three days dear friends and enjoy (if we are so lucky) the cheerful song of the blackbirds, because sooner or later, as the story goes, the queen of the underworld will return and in her train spring will arrive.
~ Giovanni di Napoli, January 28th, Feast of Sant’Agnese
