The Cold Sophie and me

 

Cold Sophie

 

Since 5 years I know that I have a cold heart. An icy heart. Someone said to me, yes you are the Cold Sophie because that‘s the day of your birthday! I was surprised because I never thought about it. All these old farmer‘s rules are forgotten and in days of climate change they make often no sense anymore. Nevertheless, these cold and windy days, sometimes also with rain, show they have arrived.

 

 

 

In different countries exist several of them. The three of them are St. Mamartus, St. Pancras and St. Servatius in most cultrures. There is also St. Boniface and the last one is the Cold Sophie. She marks the end of the frosty period in May and in earlier times, people have been careful with planting and sensitive plants outside.

 

 

 

But who is Cold Sophie? The name comes from a saint of course, Saint Sophia of Rome, a Christian martyr. Sophia‘s role as mother of faith, charity and hope makes her to a social lady, someone I really can identify with. She lived in the early 2nd century and died because of her broken heart for her martyred daughters. As a non-mother I can understand that fully. I always say I am not a mother, but I am hopefully a role model for young people, for freedom fighters, for people who are honest to themselves and to others. Of course I am far away from being a saint anyway.

 

 

 

Here in Germany she comes on my birthday so I give myself this nickname, proud to be one of these icy rulers in the warm month of May. Because it‘s true, I like the sun and the early warmth of spring as well as winter‘s icy days with sun or snow. The Cold Sophie has a powerful role in nature and planting, She is the ringleader of these ice saints and so she gives me her power in my dominant role, when I want to sink into it.

 

 

 

It also inspires me to more poetry around this date and sometimes I don‘t fear her, sometimes she comes with cold spirits and I search for my winter coat. The Cold Sophie, lady with icy hands and a ruler‘s heart but a mother, a saint, a carer.

 

Copyright by Magical whispers/I. Normann, 12/05/2020

 

sources:

Wikipedia, Sophie of Rome, April 2020

www.conviviobookwork.com (Book of days, May 11 2017)