Groundhog Day

cyswxman · #1 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 08:15 AM

It's almost that day of the year! Will he (or did he) see his shadow at your location? He likely will here, which means 6 more weeks until winter here!!

TriangleMan · #2 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 11:49 AM

I doubt he will here, in part because it will be cloudy but primarily because we don't have any groundhogs here. :wink:

Candy · #3 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 12:20 PM

I thought it only really mattered if Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. 8-[

cyswxman · #4 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 12:31 PM

Well, yeah, up there in PA. 8)

Candy · #5 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 12:50 PM

European Roots

Quote:

(Adapted from "Groundhog Day: 1886 to 1992" by Bill Anderson)
Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States.

It is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates.

Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow.

If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole.

If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.

The groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day and the days of early Christians in Europe, and for centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. Even then, it marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important.

According to an old English song:

If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight; If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go Winter, and come not again.

According to an old Scotch couplet:

If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, There'll be twa (two) winters in the year.

Another variation of the 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.

The Roman legions, during the conquest of the northern country, supposedly brought this tradition to the Teutons, or Germans, who picked it up and concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, an animal, the hedgehog, would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather, which they interpolated as the length of the "Second Winter."

Pennsylvania's earliest settlers were Germans and they found groundhogs to in profusion in many parts of the state. They determined that the groundhog, resembling the European hedgehog, was a most intelligent and sensible animal and therefore decided that if the sun did appear on February 2nd, so wise an animal as the groundhog would see its shadow and hurry back into its underground home for another six weeks of winter.

The Germans recited:

For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, So far will the snow swirl until the May.

This passage may be the one most closely represented by the first
Punxsutawney Groundhog Day observances because there were references to the length of shadows in early Groundhog Day predictions.

Another February 2nd belief, used by American 19th century farmers, was:

Groundhog Day - Half your hay.

New England farmers knew that we were not close to the end of winter, no matter how cloudy February 2nd was. Indeed, February 2nd is often the heart of winter. If the farmer didn't have half his hay remaining, there may have been lean times for the cows before spring and fresh grass arrived.

The ancient Candlemas legend and similar belief continue to be recognized annually on February 2nd due to the efforts of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

I never heard of Candlemas. 8)

ToSeek · #6 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 02:43 PM

Then there's Groundhawg Day!

Normandy6644 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 04:12 PM

I just hope I don't get stuck having to spend it over and over and over...

Candy · #8 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToSeek

Then there's Groundhawg Day!

Quote:

Lexington is famous for its pork barbecue in a tomato-based sauce.

Mmmmm, BBQ.

Gullible Jones · #9 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 08:29 PM

The whole "Groundhog Day" thing is ridiculous...

(And I feel rather sorry for the poor groundhog.)

Swift · #10 (**permalink**) 01-February-2005, 09:09 PM

My wife and I already celebrated it. I made stir-fried noodles with ground hog (pork) on Sunday night for dinner. It was very tasty.
Oh, that's not what you mean.

ops: Never mind.

I've alway thought the whole 'holiday' was kind of dumb, but Groundhog's Day is a very funny movie, and groundhogs are cute. My favorite alternative name for them are Whistle Pigs (for their distress call).

Enzp · #11 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 07:44 AM

It works pretty well. If he sees his shadow, then there is six more weeks of winter. If he sees no shadow, then winter will be over in, oh, about a month and a half.

What if he comes out right in the middle of a solar eclipse?

Kristophe · #12 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enzp

What if he comes out right in the middle of a solar eclipse?

Then he doesn't see his shadow, and winter should end in late March some time.

Enzp · #13 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 08:00 AM

Annular eclipse?

cyswxman · #14 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 08:08 AM

Looks like Phil should see his shadow this morning, unless it's foggy. I don't know if Punxsutawney is in a valley and fog-prone?
Think snow!!

TriangleMan · #15 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 11:39 AM

Current weather here is stormy with gale force winds, occasionally gusting to hurricane force. Schools and many businesses are closed. The only thing a groundhog would see here is air time.

cyswxman · #16 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 11:48 AM

Ah yes, there's one of those powerful mid-Atlantic lows parked just to your northeast.

cyswxman · #17 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 12:47 PM

Well, the little woodchuck saw his shadow, so they say. =D>

Candy · #18 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enzp

It works pretty well. If he sees his shadow, then there is six more weeks of winter. If he sees no shadow, then winter will be over in, oh, about a month and a half.

Is this a trick statement?

Quote:

Roselle, IL

Current Conditions:
As reported at KORD, O'Hare Arpt..
Last update Wed 2 Feb 2005 5:56 AM CST.

Mostly Cloudy
21°F

Feels Like: 21°F
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: CALM
Humidity: 85 %
Visibility: 6.00 miles
Barometer: 30.43 inches and Falling

No shadow.

Grizzly · #19 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 02:40 PM

I'm from a part of the world where either way we win...

6 more weeks of winter? You promise? Wahoo!
(as opposed to 10 months of winter and 2 months of road construction and bad skiing)

----
Mihi cura futuri
My concern is the future

Andromeda321 · #20 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 08:55 PM

Well guys, just a little tidbit about Punxatawney: in recent years Gobbler's Knob (where they do the groundhog thing) has gotten so popular that they've had to add stadium lighting for all the cameras and such. So nowadays I think the only way he wouldn't see his shadow is if there's a power outage. :wink:
Btw Punxatawney itself is a very pretty little town, if you're ever driving through PA on I-80 and need a rest stop I'd recommend doing it there...

A Thousand Pardons · #21 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andromeda321

if you're ever driving through PA on I-80 and need a rest stop I'd recommend doing it there...

for some reason, I would have phrased that differently...

Candy · #22 (**permalink**) 02-February-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Thousand Pardons

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andromeda321

if you're ever driving through PA on I-80 and need a rest stop I'd recommend doing it there...

for some reason, I would have phrased that differently...

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode