Well, here it is Groundhog Day again (yep, that\u2019s one of the holidays I celebrate.) Most years, I write something here about the celebration \u2014 the problem is that every year it gets harder to come up with something new. Groundhog Day is really a pretty boring holiday \u2014 same thing happens over and over. Sort of like the movie, I guess. But anyhow\u2026.<\/p>\n
Every February 2nd, at a number of places across the United States (the most famous being Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the home of Punxsutawney Phil) people get together to wait for a groundhog\u2019s predictions of our upcoming weather \u2014 of course there\u2019s only two choices: six more weeks of winter or an \u201cearly\u201d spring. So how come we celebrate this routine?
\nThe first U.S. celebration of Groundhog Day was in 1887 (in Punxsutawney, Pa.) but Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas Day. You faithful readers will remember that Candlemas Day is also on my list of holidays and was explained in this blog a few years back.
\nOn Candlemas Day, the clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. The Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal, the hedgehog, as a means of predicting weather. When the Germans came to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition, but because of the lack of hedgehogs, they switched to groundhogs \u2014 they had plenty of those in Pennsylvania. Even though Groundhog Day has been celebrated since 1887, the movie \u201cGroundhog Day\u201d seems to have increased the day\u2019s popularity.
\nAs I mentioned earlier, February 2nd is also Candlemas Day. While considered a religious holiday, it has always had some ties to the weather \u2014 an old Scottish song contains the words, \u201cIf Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there\u2019ll be two winters in the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
But it appears that even sacred days like Groundhog Day can\u2019t be left alone with their traditions. Punxsutawney Phil will now text you his weather prediction. If you\u2019re really into texting, just text \u201cGroundhog\u201d to 247365 on February 2nd. And of course some states don\u2019t want to follow Pennsylvania\u2019s lead in using the groundhog for their weather predictor. Texas uses an armadillo and celebrates Armadillo Day. Who knows, armadillos may be better weather prognosticators than groundhogs.<\/p>\n
The dean of all the groundhogs, Punxsutawney Phil has been at it for over 125 years and has achieved a 39 percent accuracy over that time. If you\u2019re wondering about how long groundhogs live, the answer is typically six to eight years. So what\u2019s Phil\u2019s secret? It seems that every summer, Phil drinks a unique \u201celixir of life\u201d concoction that keeps him alive for seven more years. Now I\u2019m thinking if we could get that recipe, we\u2019d really be on to something\u2026.. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Well, here it is Groundhog Day again (yep, that\u2019s one of the holidays I celebrate.) Most years, I write something here about the celebration \u2014 the problem is that every year it gets harder to come up with something new. … Continue reading
\nUpdate:<\/strong> Big surprise \u2014 Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning and predicted six more weeks of winter. We\u2019re not that far from Phil\u2019s place and looking out the window, it\u2019s hard to believe he saw his shadow. I\u2019m thinking it has to do with that \u201celixir of life\u201d juice he drinks \u2014 maybe it affects his judgement. I think we should hide that stuff. Maybe we need a new Phil\u2026.
\n\u2014 30\u2014<\/p>\n