As you bundle up and buckle down against today’s sub-zero temps and stinging wind you can take comfort in the fact that winter is half over – at least as far as the calendar is concerned.

Thursday, February 2, is winter’s proverbial ‘hump day’ – the exact midpoint in the official winter season, which runs from November 1 until May 1.

Historically, the day has been so meaningful to the winter-beleaguered Danes that it is recognised as a holiday that bears the name ‘Kyndelmisse’.

Until just a few years ago – 1770 to be exact – workers even got Kyndelmisse off from work. Albeit, they were expected to spend the free day in church. The name Kyndelmisse comes from the Latin words ‘candalarum misa’ – meaning ‘mass of lightsÂ’.

Although few workers today fill the pews in Denmark’s churches, many of the country’s churches still mark the holiday with a special candlelit mass.

Eating ham is another Kyndelmisse tradition that, as a fair guess, many Danes will still be doing today.

Besides marking winter’s midpoint, Kyndelmisse also has prophetic importance. According to tradition, the weather on Kyndelmisse portends how early or late spring will come.

The saying goes that if the wind blows so hard on Kyndelmisse that 18 housewives canÂ’t keep a 19th from blowing away — then spring will come early and easily.

So, cheer up.