Why are blackbirds tied to winter?

The end of January in the Northern Hemisphere can be quite cold, as it is near the midpoint of winter. According to Italian folklore, the last three days of January are the coldest of the year and are referred to as the ‘days of the blackbird’. In case these days are not very cold, it might mean that Spring will come later. This tradition is similar to others based on moon phases and the exit of the bear from its den as methods to predict the weather a few days after the day of Merla, or Candlemas.
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