Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast of the (Belgium)

March 25

The Feast of the Annunication or Lady Day is known in Belgium as Notre Dame de la ProspÉritÉ, due to a folk belief that seeds planted on this feast day will certainly sprout. This day is also associated with weather lore: traditional Belgian belief has it that a clear, starry sky before sunrise is a good omen for the next harvest.
According to legend, the Lord asked the animals and birds to pass the Feast of the Annunciation in silent contemplation. When the cuckoo ignored this command and continued its brazen, loud calling, God punished the bird by forbidding it to build its own nest, thus dooming it to wander forever.

SOURCES:
FestSaintDays-1915, p. 59
FestWestEur-1958, p. 6

Celebrated in: Belgium

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