Candlemas day, put beans in the clay; put candles and candle-sticks away

For Candlemas Day see preceding proverb (if Candlemas day be sunny and bright, winter will have another flight; if Candlemas day be cloudy with rain, winter is gone, and won’t come again). The two halves of the proverb appear to have come together comparatively recently, with the instruction about sowing beans possibly being displaced from St Valentine’s day (14 Feb.) in response to the shift from the Old Style to the New Style calendar; cf. the rhyme attested from c 1640 On Saint Valentine’s Day cast beans in clay But on Saint Chad (2 Mar.) sow good or bad (John Smyth, Berkeley MSS 33. no. 89).

1678 J. RAY English Proverbs (ed. 2) 344 On Candlemas day throw candle and candlestick away.

1876 T. F. THISELTON-DYER British Popular Customs 55 From Candlemas the use of tapers at vespers and litanies, which had continued through the whole year, ceased until the ensuing All Hallow Mass..On Candlemas Day, throw candle and candlestick away.

1948 F. THOMPSON Still glides Stream ii. Broad beans were planted..on Candlemas Day. Candlemas Day, stick beans in the clay, Throw candle and candlestick right away, they would quote.

1974 K. BRIGGS Folklore of Cotswolds ii. Candlemas Day was the time..when lights were extinguished... An old rhyme said: Candlemas Day, put beans in the clay: Put candles and candle-sticks away.