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| | Groundhog Day is traditionally a weather prediction day. If a
groundhog wakes up, emerges from his hole and sees his shadow this
means six more weeks of winter will follow. Seeing groundhog shadow
usually happens in the clear and cold weather, and groundhog normally
runs back to his hole after seeing his shadow and frightened by a cold
weather. If, however, the weather is cloudy when groundhog appears
from his hole, this means warmer temperatures, and the end of winter
is predicted with spring coming early.
The tradition of weather forecast by groundhogs goes back to the fifth
century when European Celts thought that certain animals possessed
special powers to accurately predict the weather for the coming weeks.
This happened on the days exactly in the middle between Spring Equinox
and Winter Solstice. Tales from ancient Germans support the idea that
when bears and groundhogs emerged from their dens and holes too early they
naturally got scared of their own shadows and went back to their
winter hibernating places for the next six weeks. Scott folklore shows
that groundhogs were thought to possess supernatural powers and even
healing powers.
The earliest known mention of the
Groundhog Day holiday in United
States is February 4, 1841 in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, when the local
merchant James Morris wrote in his diary "if the groundhog comes out
and sees his shadow he will go back for another six weeks, and there
will be another six weeks of winter. However if the groundhog does not
see his shadow due to the cloudy weather, the end of winter and early
spring will follow with warmer temperatures."
Groundhog Day is a traditional native festival in the USA and Canada and (Australia), celebrated every year on 2nd February. It is treated that on this particular day one has to observe a marmot coming out from its burrow. Watching its behavior it can be judged about the earliest onset of the spring. According to the legend if the day is gloomy, marmot won’t see its shadow and quietly leaves its hole – it means that winter will end shortly and the onset of spring is expected earlier. If the day is sunny, marmot looks its shadow and hides back into its hole – still 6 weeks of winter in there. In many cities and colonies of the USA and Canada on this particular day it is treated as a festival, initiated by the local marmot-meteorologists, which attracts many of the tourists.
History of the Origination of the festival:
In the ancient Rome 2nd February is treated as the Day of hedgehogs. Meteorological prognosis of this day formed according the behavior of an awaken hedgehog, which either watched or not its shadow. People of the Western Europe saved these traditions even to the late periods. In the Northern Germany, out of the immigrants who lived in Pennsylvania, during this period aroused badgers. In the northern America, where neither hedgehogs nor badgers were ranged in, the meteorological role was transferred to the Groundhogs.
2nd February for the Christians is celebrated as The Purification of Mary as per the Gregorian’s calendar.
In the USA there is a famous Scottish proverb: If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there’ll be two winters in the year.
There is a proverb among the German immigrants of Pennsylvania: Wann die Grundsau ihre Schadde sehnt, noch sex Woche Winder iss wass es meent (If the marmot shows its face, it means that six weeks of winter is left).
The Wild marmot (Marmota monax) habits from the northern border of the forest in The Canada up to the south Appalachians at the North-East of The USA. The winter sleeps in the northern parts of habitation localities extends longer, than the South. During the movement from the south to the north the date of awakening from the hibernation is shifted to one day for every 12 km. particularly in the central Pennsylvania this day (2nd February) comes The Purification of Mary.
Some of the famous marmots-meteorologists:
In the USA and Canada seven marmots-meteorologists mostly known: Punxsutawney Phil, Wiarton Willie, Staten Island Chuck, Shubenacadie Sam, Balzac Billy, Jimmy the Groundhog, General Beauregard Lee. |
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