Yes, yes! Welcome to Gobbler's Knob! The weather capital of the world. We're talking about Groundhog day everybody. Will we have six more weeks of winter? or will we see an early spring? And what is Groundhog day? How did it get started? So many questions.
Let's get to it.
Groundhog Day is a popular tradition celebrated in Canada and the United States on February 2nd. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks, and if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early. While the tradition remains popular in modern times, studies have found no consistent correlation between a groundhog seeing its shadow or not and the subsequent arrival time of spring like weather.
The weather lore was brought from German-speaking areas where the badger is the forecasting animal. This appears to be an enhanced version of the lore that clear weather on the Christian Holy Day of Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter.
The Groundhog Day ceremony held at Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania, centering around a semi mythical groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil, has become the most attended. Grundsow Lodges in Pennsylvania Dutch Country in the southeastern part of the state celebrate them as well. Other cities in the United States and Canada have also adopted the event.
The observance of Groundhog Day in the United States first occurred in German communities in Pennsylvania, according to known records.
The earliest mention of Groundhog Day is an entry on February 2, all the back in 1840. Though this clearly isn't something that is new to America or the weather world. It is not something I've ever participated in. This year however I felt the need to touch on Groundhog day. I love weather folklore and when it comes to folklore, Groundhog day is a big one! And not only that, But it dates back to the 1840s! I love that. I love that things like this have been around for so many decades.
If it's something you want to get into as well, you can actually follow along with Punxsutawney Phil's prediction via a live stream on their website. Click Here To Watch Phil On on the weather channel. The coverage starts bright and early on Feb 2nd at 5:45am.
Will we have 6 more weeks of winter? Or will we see an early spring? Phil will decide. However 6 more weeks of winter doesn't sound too bad considering most of us have been experiencing a very mild winter. Very little snowfall and many days above our average high. I think we could handle it should Phil point us in that direction.
I don't know about you all, but I'm going to kick off this Superbowl / Groundhog Day weekend the only way I see fit! With a 4 mile run and a movie. But what movie? Oh... I think you know!
Have a great day and super weekend bloggers.
Thank you for reading. And stay well!
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