Tag: winter

February 1, 2026 THE COAL SPEAKER

The groundhog might see a shadow, but will Cailleach be able to keep her fire going?

The history of Groundhog Day is not regulated to Punxsutawney. It stretches back to hedgehogs, fertility, Paganism, and a witch named Cailleach.

January 24, 2026 THE COAL SPEAKER

On the eve of a snowstorm, a stroll back on an icy Amnesia Lane to past ‘big ones’

Big storms come and go, and summer sun comes again. But on the eve of a snow event, let’s stroll down an icy amnesia lane and visit some previous storms.

The history of school start dates is interesting.. the 1800s were all about farming. The 1900s respected Labor Day ..

But in 1994, a certain series of snowstorms created a need to change school calendars, and we never went back since.

Let the anxiety begin.

February 6, 2022 THE COAL SPEAKER

Images after an ice storm

The landscape appeared as a painting under the sun..

November 19, 2020 THE COAL SPEAKER

The real dark winter: The final sunset in Utqiagvik, Alaska until 2021

We have been hearing a lot of people and politicians throw the phrase “dark winter” around as of late. They ain’t seen no dark winter until they are in Utqiagvik for 66 days starting now.