Not Just Punxsutawney's Big Day
byWhenever I think of this day, I get “I Got You Babe” stuck in my head thanks to the movie, Groundhog Day.
In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks. [wiki]
This year the prophetic little critter in Pennsylvania had this to say, which is a lot more than I can get out at that hour of the morning:
Phil’s official forecast as read 2/2/07 at 7:28 a.m. at Gobbler’s Knob:
El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.
Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.
On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?
On Gobbler’s Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way [Groundhog.org]
Our Canadian version of Phil, is Wiarton Willie in Wiarton, Ontario. He also predicted an early spring. But just how many of these climatically inclined critters are out there? City News gives us a list including, but not limited to: Buckeye Chuck, French Creek Freddy and Balzac Billy. Way to go guys, today is YOUR day.
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[…] Update: Thanks to Miss604 (who also associates the day not only with the aforementioned animal but also with that Sonny and Cher song) I learned that there are more than just the two groundhogs I mentioned. There’s a whole list of them throughout North America (most of them in the US). From CityNews: Nova Scotia: Shubenacadie Sam Brandon Manitoba: Brandon Bob Alberta: Balzac Billy Kleinburg, Ont.: Gary the Groundhog Birmingham, Alabama: Birmingham Bill Marion, Ohio: Buckeye Chuck St. Louis: Chester Dunkirk, New York: Dunkirk Dave West Virigina: French Creek Freddy Georgia: General Beauregard Lee Sun Prairie, Wisconsin: Jimmy the Groundhog Long Island, N.Y.: Malverne Mel Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Octarara Orphie Vermont: Peewee, the Woodchuck Hollis, New Hampshire: Pennichuck Chuck North Carolina: Sir Walter Wally Staten Island, N.Y.: Staten Island Chuck Unadilla, Nebraska: Unadilla Bill […]