Exciting news – today is Groundhog Day!
Because of the film with the same name, most of us think of Groundhog Day as a day where boring events keep repeating themselves – but there’s <strong>much</strong> more to it than that.
Groundhog Day is celebrated in Canada and The United States. Folklore says that if the groundhog comes out from his burrow on February 2nd, and it’s sunny enough to see his shadow – then he’ll run back inside, and winter will continue for another six weeks. If it’s cloudy on that day, there will be an early spring. The tradition began in Germany, and was centred around a badger. When Germans emigrated to Pennsylvania in the 19th century, they hoped to continue the tradition – the only problem being that there were no badgers in that part of the country. Maybe they figured that one small furry creature was much the same as another – and Groundhog Day was born.
Science types will say that the groundhog isn’t really that accurate in his weather reporting – but that’s not really the point – it’s a bit of fun – and has led to a whole industry in Punxsutawney.
Don’t you just love old traditions?
(This post first appeared on www.girlsheartbooks)