Well, obviously Florida and California are two states where one can ride 12 months a year but for motorcyclists in less temperate climes it can be hard hanging up your helmet until the vernal equinox.

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The superstitious believed that hibernating animals would emerge from their long winter slumber to check on the weather on Candlemas, which is halfway between the winter solstice in December and the vernal equinox in March.

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Armed with a map of China's wine regions and an open mind, I trotted off to the tasting, which by coincidence landed on the vernal equinox an appropriate time to challenge my taste buds and try something new.

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The tradition goes back to medieval times when there was a superstition that all hibernating animals emerged from their caves and dens to check the weather on Candlemas, which is halfway between the winter solstice in December and the vernal equinox in March.

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