The Days of the Blackbird: An Italian Legend

January 29, 30, and 31 are generally considered the coldest days of the year here, particularly in northern Italy. These days are also known as the Days of the Blackbird (i Giorni della Merla). This can be traced back to the Italian “Legend of the Blackbird”.

Different regions of Italy have their own versions of the legend. The most common version is it that during these cold days a beautiful white bird and her white chicks took refuge in a chimney to protect them from the cold. On February 1, they came out all gray because of the soot. According to the legend, from that moment onwards, all female blackbirds and their chicks became gray, and the males remained black.

Much like Groundhog Day, the Days of the Blackbird are also used as a method to predict the weather. It is generally believed that if these three days are particularly cold, spring will be early and pleasant. Conversely, if they are warm days, the rest of spring will be cold.

We don’t know what kind of weather the Blackbird Days will predict this year. But if the weather we’ve had so far is anything to go by, it might be a cold spring.

So why not have a ‘family fun night’ in honor of our feathered friends and build some birdhouses to keep them warm, just in case? Visit Deep Jungle Home for some creative inspiration to get you started. They’re economical and eco-friendly, too — you can use art supplies you might have lying around the house, or salvaged items from your recycling.

Now, just for fun, watch the following video of the Days of the Blackbird. Put out some food for the birds, make yourself a hot drink, snuggle up under a blanket, and enjoy this short story. Don’t worry — I found an English version!

📷 Image credits: blackbird