The humble, lowly groundhog, also called a woodchuck, is the only mammal to be honored with a special day of his own.
February 22nd. Groundhog Day.
Now don’t misunderstand me, the U.S. government has not endorsed the date as a national holiday. But that doesn’t keep millions of people from remembering the date, and reminding their family, friends, and neighbors to look out their windows on that special day in February.
Let us go back to when the observance started?
In ancient times, people believed that hibernating creatures had the capacity to forecast the onset of spring. The German immigrants, known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, brought to America the annual observance custom in the 18th century, with the conviction that the badger held the truth on the seasonal gauge. Later, the role of predictor was shifted to the groundhog, after bringing their Candlemas traditions to America.
Candlemas, a ritual purifying of Mary, 40 days after the birth of Jesus, is one of four cross-quarters of a year. It occurs middle way between the first day of winter and the first day of spring. Tradition said that if the Candlemas was sunny, then the rest of the six weeks of winter would be cold. However, if the climate continued to be filled with precipitation, the remaining winter would be calm.
With the groundhog, if they see their shadow, it must be bright and sunny, which means that a cold winter is ahead.
Some Europeans honored the bear as their power figure for weather predictions. February 22nd is the date that folks have believed the groundhog wakes, and exits his burrow. If he sees his shadow, he goes back into his burrow for six more weeks of hibernation. But if the creature doesn’t see his shadow, he hangs loose outside, and anticipates a warm spring season.
It’s a fun day of the year, and a tradition honored by millions.
It’s February 22nd. Don’t forget -- look out your window to see what the groundhog will do. Will he return to his winter sleep, knowing that spring is no where in sight, or decide to start his year with the anticipation of spring?
Go To Page: 1
