Groundhog Day

Amos Stevens

New Member
February 2 is a sacred day.

Punxsutawney Phil is the world's smallest and furriest weather forecaster and February 2 is his day.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

February 2, 2003 - around 7:25 am ET - Punxsutawney, PA

Phil saw his shadow and thus we are headed for 6 more weeks of winter!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The legend of Groundhog Day is based on an old Scottish couplet: "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year."

Every February 2, people gather at Gobbler's Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Residents contend that the groundhog has never been wrong.

The ceremony in Punxsutawney was held in secret until 1966, and only Phil's prediction was revealed to the public. Since then, Phil's fearless forecast has been a national media event.

The groundhog comes out of his electrically heated burrow, looks for his shadow and utters his prediction to a Groundhog Club representative in "groundhogese." The representative then translates the prediction for the general public.

If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, it means spring is just around the corner.

Approximately 90% of the time, Phil sees his shadow.

Phil started making predictions in 1887 and has become an American institution.

********************

Groundhog Day songs:
http://ourworld.cs.com/DonaldRHalley/ghdsongs.htm
 

Amos Stevens

New Member
This is an old Arizona article:

PHOENIX: Phoenix Phil, Arizona's official groundhog, was buried alive beneath a recently constructed K Mart parking lot. Therefore, he did not appear on Groundhog Day and forecast the weather by looking for his shadow. "That groundhog, he was a gonner," explained Joe "Tent City" Arpeeoo, Maricopa County Sheriff.
"There is no precedent for the groundhog not showing up," said Arizona State Senator John Dumbreak, "so we don't know what this means for sure." Dumbreak introduced legislation to designate Randy the Rattlesnake as the official February 2nd weather prognosticator for Arizona. The legislation was passed in emergency session. "Problem is, rattlesnakes ain't got no shadow,"noted Arpeeoo.



Baja Arizona neo-luddites were thrilled at the news that Phoenix's groundhog ended up beneath six inches of asphalt. "Maybe, in retribution, God will punish their progress-mad leaders and bury Phoenix under 3,000 feet of snow," commented Ned Ludlight, local luddite leader. "More likely they'll end up with 12 more years of summer," quipped Joe Sam.

Frightened Phoenix Chamber of Commerce officials frantically dug in the parking lot until well after dawn on the 2nd, hoping that the groundhog could be found. K Mart officials were not amused at having their parking lot torn up. "Using a rattlesnake as our February 2nd weather critter doesn't send the right message out about Arizona" explained Sonja Sellem, with the Phoenix Chamber. The rattlesnake appeared at dawn, and bit a television news anchor on the ankle. Film at 10.

Memorial services for Phil were held in the parking lot.
 

kickingbird

candle lighter
LOL! ... speaking of more winter, it was in the upper 60's this weekend, but tomorrow we expect a high of 36 with snow, and more cold the rest of the week ... yuck! and my poor car has a gas-line freeze problem - am feeding it Heet and so far it is behaving itself; however, last week I was late for work because it got stubborn. This is also the year anniversary of the infamous ice storm here = 4 inches of it! let's hope Spring arrives sooner than the little furry thing predicted ... :)
 

Catlady

New Member
60"s LOL I would love a day like that now. Our heatwave here has been 20"s. Better the -0 we had last week. I WANT SPRING...More snow comming everyday for the next four to five days..I hate this stuff ...
 

Mama San

Administrator
71?
Grandson, how I do envy you!
We're having a heat wave here!
It's 45 and that was a struggle!!
God bless,
Grandma C. [Mama san]
 
Top