Awaking now from her long sleep, and throwing off her white mantle, she strives to make up for lost time.
No sooner has the snow disappeared than the fresh young grass begins to shoot up, and very soon afterwards the shrubs and trees begin to bud.
The rapidity of this transition from winter to spring astonishes the inhabitants of more temperate climes.
On St.George's Day (April 23rd*) the cattle are brought out for the first time, and sprinkled with holy water by the priest.

They are never very fat, but at this period of the year their appearance is truly lamentable.

During the winter they have been cooped up in small unventilated cow-houses, and fed almost exclusively on straw; now, when they are released from their imprisonment, they look like the ghosts of their former emaciated selves.

All are lean and weak, many are lame, and some cannot rise to their feet without assistance.
* With regard to saints' days, I always give the date according to the old style.

To find the date according to our calendar, thirteen days must be added.
Meanwhile the peasants are impatient to begin the field labour.