Yesterday was the celebration of an extremely unique National Holiday here in the U.S., Groundhogs Day. With the beautiful 50 degree weather in Virginia and promise of an early Spring in 2011 (thank goodness!) It got me thinking, where did this crazy holiday come from!?
In 1841 a German shopkeeper in Berks County, Pennsylvania, February 2 was the day the groundhog (woodchuck) comes out of his burrow from hibernating (sleeping through the winter). If the day is sunny and the groundhog sees his shadow, he returns to his burrow for six more weeks of hibernation. If the day is cloudy and the groundhog cannot see his shadow, then he ends his hibernation and the weather will be mild. eNotes.com
Although there are many groundhogs across the Country that peek out of their burrows on February 2, the most famous is Punxsutawney Phil, who lives near Punxsutawney in north central Pennsylvania. Phil even has his own club and members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club declare that in more than ninety years of predicting the weather, Phil has never been wrong. Well Phil I sure hope you are right this year!
Below is a picture of dear Phil and my two favorite seasons of the year. Cannot wait for some warmer weather!
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