Happy Groundhog Day!!! – Redux (again)

Posted on by under animals, Holidays, Humour

This is a repeat of my 2017 Groundhog Day post. Every year I consider writing a new one, but after I read this one, and it even makes me laugh, I figure I probably can’t come up with anything better, so why re-invent the wheel, eh?  If you remember this from last year, or the year before, or the year before … pretend you don’t and read it again, laugh again, okay?  We need to find humour these days …

“Ground Hog Day is tomorrow. We’re the only country that accepts weather predictions from a rodent, and denies climate change facts by scientists.” – Alt-NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

ghd-3Good morning!  Today is a very special day, so I am setting aside my usual fare for this morning’s post to pay due respect and homage to none other than Pennsylvania’s own … {drumroll} … {applause} … Punxsutawney Phil!!!!  A brief summary of the legend and the history for my friends across the pond who may not know about Phil:

On this day in 1887, Groundhog Day, featuring a rodent meteorologist, is celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to tradition, if a groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather; no shadow means an early spring.

ghd-5Groundhog Day has its roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas Day, when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. Germans expanded on this concept by selecting an animal–the hedgehog–as a means of predicting weather. Once they came to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition, although they switched from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in the Keystone State.

The line of groundhogs that have since been known as Phil might be America’s most famous groundhogs, but other towns across North America now have their own weather-predicting rodents, from Birmingham Bill to Staten Island Chuck to Shubenacadie Sam in Canada.

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According to the Weather Channel, the forecast in Punxsutawney is a high chance of cloudy skies, and even a chance of a flurry or two. According to the legend, this means an early spring is ahead. For the record, Punxsutawney Phil has only been accurate 39% of the time since 1887.

I used to say that Groundhog Day was my favourite holiday, mostly because it did not require a lot of effort on my part … no huge meal to cook, no presents to buy and wrap, no tree to decorate or lights to string.

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I happened across a humorous piece I thought you might enjoy.  Scott Feschuk, a Canadian speechwriter, humourist and former newspaper journalist, wrote this satire piece after hearing Trump’s rather ridiculous speech on black history.  It is his take on what a speech by Trump to commemorate Groundhog Day might be like:

“Well, this is Groundhog Day, so these are just a few little notes I want to share with you. On this day, we honour the tremendous history of groundhogs throughout our country. Throughout the world, if you really think about it, right? Because that’s where groundhogs are and where they live. Here but also there. Everywhere, really, except not exactly everywhere but almost.

Mostly in the ground though, on or it, or in the vicinity – which is why we call them that. Groundhogs. Right there in the name.

They’re incredible animals and their incredible example is unique in many ways. So many unique ways that honestly there’s no point in me examining any of them in any detail. We all know. We all know bigly.

You’ve all heard about groundhogs. They are well known and people know about them. We have some good ones. We have the one from that place in Pennsylvania and we have other ones and we have the one from that golf movie with one of the Ghostbusters. There are others. Many others that we all know, and I also know them.

The groundhog from the movie Groundhog Day is an example of a groundhog who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I noticed. Big impact. But all groundhogs – big impact on the seasons and the changing of the seasons. There are several seasons and we all know what they are.

I do very well with groundhogs, by the way, not that you’d know from CNN which is fake news and disgraceful. But I do substantially better than others have done. They hear me talk about underground life—it’s horrible, life is short, you can get killed by a wolf on the way to pick up an acorn. They hear me and they love me.

The groundhog is cherished. I am very proud of the fact that people in America can learn about groundhogs, and many other things. And they can learn about their many, many accomplishments, which we celebrate on this day, which is why it is called Groundhogs Day and is so special.

I’m proud to honour our groundhog heritage and will be honouring it more and more. Like I said before, a groundhog is an animal—much like a fox is also an animal. And Fox News has treated me very nice. Wherever Fox is, thank you.

Omarosa saw a groundhog once.” 

So there you have it.  Everything you always wanted to know about Groundhog Day and more!  For the record, though I am not a cute, furry little animal that lives in holes in the ground, my prediction is that the sun has taken a permanent vacation.  Here, we have had exactly one sunny day since January 20th.  One.  Just ONE!  I think the sun came out, saw something evil, and went back behind the clouds for protection.

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17 thoughts on “Happy Groundhog Day!!! – Redux (again)”

  1. Oh gee, how have I missed this for so many years? I LOV IT! One of my cousins was born on Groundhog Day. Can’t remember which one but his two brothers were born on April Fool’s Day and Halloween. Absolutely nothing about this means anything except I can’t stop laughing. And since I have no calendar I also have no idea what day this is, and question whether or not I actually exist at the moment. OH, pain just shot through my left shoulder, so I guess I do exist. But if that darn groundhog is saying we will have another 6 weeks of winter weather I think I’m going to go hunting for groundhogs and bring all that I find back to put in a huge pot of burgoo. Since I’ve never seen a groundhog among the fauna in this area I have a feeling there will not be a need for a huge pot for cooking anything. But now I do want some burgoo.

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    • Ha ha … I’m laughing with you! I’ve always thought that having a baby on April 1st would be weird, like maybe he would come out and immediately say, “April Fool’s!!!” No calendar??? There should be one on your phone, and also on your computer, if nothing else! I shall have to start sending you a morning email each day, saying, “Good morning, Angie … today is February 3rd!” Perhaps I could add, “Just 325 days left ’til Christmas!” I often wake unable to remember what day of the week it is, and a quick glance at my phone settles that. David sometimes wakes up not remember who he is! How’s everything going? I haven’t heard from you for a while … any progress on finding new living arrangements? Love you, my friend!

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      • Okay,,I haven’t recovered from the past Christmas yet, so FYI, I do check my phone, computer (working again after a few weeks of no charging). As for my absence — I’ve had one of the worst sinus infections of my life, and I’ve almost died two times from that! Not over it completely but now I think I’ll live a few more years.
        As to my new address, YES, I have a place waiting at the Carmel Home, the place I’ve had a application in for over two years. Not sure when I can move there though.. They had a water pipe bursting on Christmas morning and have several rooms that need new floors and ceilings. I’m not sure how admin. here found out but they now know and are trying to talk me out of leaving. What a difference! But a few more people are moving out of this place and they are very close to being shut down, so trying to keep as many as possible. I’ll have to check out the food soon to see if it has improved, but for now I’m still buying my own.

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        • I’m so sorry you’ve been so sick!!! But, I’m glad you’re on the mend and will live a few more years, anyway. And, I’m SUPER HAPPY to her that you are going to be at the Carmel Home, especially since it’s taken you two years! Surely they can get the damage from the water pipe repaired by the end of March, I should think. At the latest! You’d think the administrators of your current place would realize, with so many leaving, that there’s a problem. Just tell them that your mind is made up and not to even bother to try to talk you out of it. Will you have a private suite and maybe even a kitchenette at Carmel House? Take care, my friend, and keep me posted!

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  2. Thank you for sharing!!.. it interesting how we mortals continue to to enjoy those old sayings and fables, always wondering if there is any reality to them.. and maybe ole Phil took one look at the state of affairs this world is in and decided he wanted none of it and went back into the comfort and safety of his den… hopefully the state of the world , and the weather, will improve for the better… 🙂

    Hope your path in life is filled with sunshine and until we meet again..
    May flowers always line your path
    and sunshine light your way,
    May songbirds serenade your
    every step along the way,
    May a rainbow run beside you
    in a sky that’s always blue,
    And may happiness fill your heart
    each day your whole life through.
    (Irish Saying)

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    • Yes, in the case of Phil and his day, I think we just enjoy the humour of it. You’re so right, though … if he came up and saw the political climate, he would never likely pop his head out again!!! Who could blame him! Lovely Irish Saying, my friend … thank you!!!

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    • It really is kinda true! And then there are some who will accept ‘facts’ from almost anyone except those who actually know something. Anyway, Happy Belated Groundhog Day to you too, my friend!

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  4. Actually, groundhog day was brought over from the Germans & these kinds of predictions are ancient. MANY cultures used animals as predictive elements; not just about the weather! The Romans were famous for this!

    Groundhog’s Day also derives from the Pagan holiday of Imolc, which was also known as the Festival of the Goddess of Brede, later Christianized as Saint Bridget; the day is also known as Candlemas. The idea is all the same … it’s the day when it’s possible to see that the days are obviously getting longer & even though it’s still very cold, spring is on its way.

    I personally think the whole idea of Groundhog Day is idiotic. If he sees his shadow there’s 6 more weeks of winter & if he doesn’t, there’s an early spring? There’s 6 more weeks of winter EITHER WAY. & where I live (Buffalo, NY), there’s generally 8-10 more weeks of winter, even if the air smells like spring & there’s crocuses coming up … I’ve seen snow in May. I used to turkey hunt (in NY, it’s turkey season starts May 1) & you always had to bundle up because it was always a cold morning! Snow on Easter morning is almost a given & there’s almost always a snowstorm for St. Patty’s day. I think I remember one St Patrick’s day when the weather was warm & nice. It’s usually vile. That wintry mix sh*t. But who cares, everyone is drunk anyway.

    The days are definitely getting longer. Sunrise comes earlier & the sunset is much later that it was even a few weeks ago. But as the saying goes, “As the days get longer, the cold gets stronger”. It’s going to be VERY cold this weekend!

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