Okay, so Groundhog Day was yesterday, but I can still report on it today.
The news was good. An early spring is predicted.
Various celebrity groundhogs were unable to see their shadows.
Groundhogs are getting smarter these days. While some are wearing sunglasses to avoid seeing their shadows, others are putting their computer skills to use to determine seasonal forecasts.
Combined with a late winter arrival (here) this early spring predication makes for one very short snowy season. (I know, I know, many others have been and are being bombarded by the white stuff. I think you got our share. Sorry.)
I’m not going to get into a discussion of what an early spring means in terms of global warming and the environment. We’ll simply allow this tradition to have its day…
And just so you’re reassured as to the accuracy of the prediction, the following famous groundhogs were all unable to see their shadows. Three out of three is pretty darned good.
Wiarton Willie of Ontario.
Shubenacadie Sam of Nova Scotia
Punxsutawney Phil of Pennsylvania
(To be honest, I don’t really get this whole Groundhog Day thing — they’re just rodents forced out of their dens. But while I don’t put a whole lot of faith in it, I still like hearing that an early spring is in the cards — from any source.)
The news was good. An early spring is predicted.
Various celebrity groundhogs were unable to see their shadows.
Groundhogs are getting smarter these days. While some are wearing sunglasses to avoid seeing their shadows, others are putting their computer skills to use to determine seasonal forecasts.
Combined with a late winter arrival (here) this early spring predication makes for one very short snowy season. (I know, I know, many others have been and are being bombarded by the white stuff. I think you got our share. Sorry.)
I’m not going to get into a discussion of what an early spring means in terms of global warming and the environment. We’ll simply allow this tradition to have its day…
And just so you’re reassured as to the accuracy of the prediction, the following famous groundhogs were all unable to see their shadows. Three out of three is pretty darned good.
Wiarton Willie of Ontario.
Shubenacadie Sam of Nova Scotia
Punxsutawney Phil of Pennsylvania
(To be honest, I don’t really get this whole Groundhog Day thing — they’re just rodents forced out of their dens. But while I don’t put a whole lot of faith in it, I still like hearing that an early spring is in the cards — from any source.)
12 comments:
I was discussing Groundhog Day with a Hawaiian a few years back, and they seemed really puzzled because they have3 no idea of what a ground hog is, nor do they understand what an early spring is. Even here in the Pacific Northwest, no one even seems to bat an eye about it, but when I was growing up in NJ it was nearly treated like a national celebration.
guy: It's actually a crazy celebration/tradition but so many people get such a big kick out of it - and it gets huge media coverage.
(I just liked those groundhog pictures...)
I wounder how it all started. It is a strage one, presumably it has to do with some old farmer's tradition.
oreneta: Could have (but didn't) check the origins - just went ahead and posted without doing my "homework."
It's so funny how it gets the old folks talking at my dad's nursing home. When I went to see him I was greeted at the door by a very elderly resident who wanted to know what the "news" from outside was, about...you know, the ground hog?
It took me a minute to figure out it was Groundhog Day.
trish: Funny but kind of sad, right? "The news from outside."
Such little things but at least they add to the conversation - which can be tough with those visits.
Sad, yes. But because I want to see my dad I have to put up a little bit of a shield when I go in there or I would probably fall apart.
trish: In this case, a shield is a good thing. Sometimes the love and desire to be there don't provide enough "protection."
But once in awhile, falling apart can be a good and necessary thing too. (But maybe not during the actual visit...)
That's funny...I was also recently had a conversation with a friend who is from Tel Aviv, and she didn't know what Groundhog Day was, nor did she know what a Groundhog was! When I told her it was a large rodent, she cringed in horror (is terribly afraid of mice and rats).
Honestly, I just don't get this day. The people who are passionate about it are NUTS!!! It's a freakin' dumb (albeit cute) rodent! It cannot predict anything!! And yet people bring gifts to these oblivious creatures, and I have heard that the honoured groundhogs live in the lap of luxury. The mind boggles....
patricia: Okay, I didn't know about the gifts and the lap of luxury thing. People are worshipping these creatures??? It's weirder than I thought.
(Guess you're not watching the Super Bowl - or you're multi-tasking. My husband has betrayed me - he turned it on!)
I don't really pay attention to the ground hog thing, but if I were a ground hog I would have come outside, realised it was really super cold and said "Screw this I'm going back to bed" But either way a early spring would be nice, even though it doesn't feel like spring is just around the corner.
coffee mom: It is rather nasty of humans to drag these creatures out of their dens. Wonder if they have trouble getting back to sleep?
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