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Groundhog Day
"If Candlemas Day is clear and bright,
Winter will have another bite.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain,
Winter is gone and will not come again."
~ Traditional
Groundhog? Hedgehog? Guinea Pig? If you are weary of winter, consult the weather forecasting hog of your choice! Groundhog Day, an offshoot of the Catholic Church's Candlemas Day, itself tied to the ancient celebration of Imbolc, began as a European and Pennsylvania German custom in the 18th and 19th centuries, substituting the native American groundhog for the European hedgehog for weather divination rituals. Tradition says that if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow, then spring will come early; if it is sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow and retreats back into its burrow, six more weeks of cold winter are augured! The most famous US forecasting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil of Gobblers Knob, Pennsylvania, has been making predictions since 1887. Because Phil's predictions often come with a statement (interpreted from Groundhogese by the President of the Groundhog Club), Phil once memorably announced during Prohibition that unless he got a sip of liquor, there would be 60 more weeks of winter! As Phil's overall annual hit rate is at 40%, a sip of whisky surely won't hurt. But there are quite a few other weather-prognosticating woodchucks. Take your pick! 🦔 🦔 🦔 🗓️ 🌨️ ❄️ ⛅ 🌷 🥃
Chattanooga Chuck (Tennessee)
French Creek Freddie (West Virginia)
Buckeye Chuck (Ohio)
Essex Ed (New Jersey)
Jimmy the Groundhog (Wisconsin)
Staten Island Chuck (New York)
General Beuregard Lee (Georgia)
Dunkirk Dave (New York)
Thistle the Whistlepig (Ohio)
Wiarton Willie (Ontario)
Shubenacadie Sam (Nova Scotia)
Fred la Marmotte, Val d'Espoir (Québec)
For Hedgehog or Groundhog Day, we have a special tartan by Carol A.L. Martin, "Groundhog Day."
Groundhog Day is a traditional holiday celebrated on February 2, which began as a European and Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries as an offshoot of Candlemas Day. Candelmas is the Catholic church's version of the Celtic celebration of Imbolc, marking the beginning of spring and the return of the sun. People would bring candles to be blessed by the priest in lieu of the older tradition of lighting bonfires for purification and renewal rituals, then bringing home an ember to light a new fire or candle in the home. Imbolc begins at sunset on February 1st and continues till sunset on February 2nd in keeping with the Celtic tradition of beginning the day at the time of darkness!
The most famous US groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, whose full name is “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary,” shares his skills with other mammal traditions including badgers in Germany, hedgehogs in Ireland (On St. Bridghid's Day, Feb 1), bears in Croatia and Serbia, and snakes in Scotland!
From the designer:
"If the sun comes out on a clear blue morning, the Groundhog will see his shadow. Again, the darker "shadow" portion is asymmetrical as if light is shining on the lines from the left hand side. The turquoise seemed to go with the bright yellow and reminded me of a warm Caribbean vacation, which I am sure many people on the East Coast may be dreaming of right now."
For more on this weather-lore holiday and to monitor today's prediction of one of the most famous weather-predicting groundhogs, Punxsutawney Phil, click the groundhog or visit his facebook page to see the live feed of his prediction!