I had to laugh a bit at the weather when I peered out the window this morning. Snow. Mind you, only a bare covering. But the temperature outside makes walking to where my sap buckets hang a futile journey. It’ll be too chilly for the sap to run. No syrup making tonight. It’s Traitor’s Spring. You won’t find that one in the search engines, I don’t think.
Traitor’s Spring
I learned the phrase on an island along the coast of Maine, and like many old things, I learned it in my “Salad Days”. And it was an antique saying then. So why would I put it among the favorites? Sure, won’t find the cheer squad out there doing happy songs, no cheerleaders doing routines. It’s just old Father Winter trying to restore his failing hold on us.
Well, to be fair, I didn’t exactly say it was a favorite. But it wouldn’t be spring in New England without a bit of Traitor’s Spring. It’s in there with the Ice Out Party, Making Maple syrup, and other antique Yankee Idiocies for spring.
Ice Out?
Wait. You never heard about Ice Out? You poor deprived…you ever heard about an ice out party? It’s when the ice finally breaks up on the lake or pond. By then, every sensible ice fisher has their shed and gear off the lake, or they’ll be sitting on the bottom. But when the ice is out, it’s time to have a real blast out party. But wait…there’s more. Sometimes, after everyone is blasted, there is a spontaneous drift towards the icy shore. Now in remote areas the ice out party happens on the shore. It’s not tropical out there by any means. Everyone strips to bare, goose-pimpled skin, and the brave ones dive in. A veritable maelstrom of frozen flesh, screams echoing across barren frozen wastes of ice and water.
Of course, there are those of us who merely watch, snicker, and laugh, that to is a part of the party.
So next time you drive past a frozen pond or lake this time of year, think about those wild rites of spring, and shiver.
Discover more from Louis N. Carreras, Woodcarver
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
New Year’s Day here means Polar Bear Dips. And then party. After you thaw…🥶
Not as challenging as water with ice floating in it!
I’d never heard of Traitor’s spring before. You learn something new every day… hugs
The image of a “maelstrom of frozen flesh” is a little scary…
Well, I was reaching…
🤣
Brittlestar, a Canadian, calls it “Sucker Punch” spring. If your comments allows urls, here’s a YouTube link to his short little video on it. Terribly accurate. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JMcZN6fpto8
That’s a new one for me, but it’s a great way to describe it.
Traitors Spring, that’s a new one for me!
You are correct, Lou. I have never heard the term “traitor’s spring”. Guess I spent more years in the south than the northeast. And Wikipedia doesn’t know anything about it. I love fun expression like that one. Indian summer is one I understand. Spring has had a fight with summer here and we are the losers. It’s been in the upper 80’s for 2 weeks now. Not a good sign. Thanks for adding to our vocabulary.
You are welcome!
We are finally edging into the positive numbers- albeit only during the day- but it is a start! As far as the snow goes- about six feet of accumulation- but so far nothing much is being added to that!
Six feet…Oy…we had 24 inches, and I complained…