Groundhog Day

[Andykev]

This is it, February 2! Mark the calendars. It is time to top that top hat and watch for the shadow.

"If the sun shines on Groundhog Day;
Half the fuel and half the hay."

If the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, an animal would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of Winter. Germans watched a badger for the shadow. In Pennsylvania, the groundhog, upon waking from mid-Winter hibernation, was selected as the replacement.

Pennsylvania's official celebration of Groundhog Day began on February 2nd, 1886 with a proclamation in The Punxsutawney Spirit by the newspaper's editor, Clymer Freas: "Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow." The groundhog was given the name "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary'' and his hometown thus called the "Weather Capital of the World.'' His debut performance: no shadow - early Spring.

The legendary first trip to Gobbler's Knob was made the following year.

http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm

 

[cneil]

Happy Candlemas

Happy Groundhog Day

Groundhog day, the contemplation of spring and of things to come, new beginnings and fresh starts as the earth prepares to awake from her long winters nap.

Manny thing to do like soil to till and seeds to plant, fences to mend and gates to latch.

But where dos this tradition of Groundhog Day comes from?
It is very ancient, probably introduced to the Teutonic and Celtic peoples by the Roman Legions.

A Scottish rhyme:
“If Candlemas day be dry and fair,
The half o’ winter to come and mair,
If Candlemas day be wet and foul.
The half of winter’s gone at Yule.�

Candlemas Day is an event associated with early Christianity where the clergy would bless the candles.

A German saying:
“For as the Sun shines on Candlemas Day.
So far will the snow swirl until the May.�

In Europe it was the wise hedgehog that would cast his shadow on February 2nd.

It appears that it was the German settlers of Pennsylvania
Who brought it to America and decided that the Groundhogs, which they found in abundance here, resembling in appearance and sign of being a most sensible and wise animal, could fill in on the duties of the European Hedgehog on February 2nd.

Happy Groundhog Day

 

[mysterygal]

groundhog day probably started out as something superstitous (hope I spelt that right).
unfortunately, in the lovely great northwest there is usually nothing but clouds and rain *sighs* how I miss the sun!