Fog Blog Groundhog Day Log:

THERE ARE A LOT OF THE LITTLE RODENT PROGNOSTICATORS THAT WILL BE OUT IN FORCE THIS FRIDAY!....SOME ARE......PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL IN PENNSYLVANIA , MANITOBA MERV, WOODY IN HOWELL MICHIGAN, WIARTON WILLIE IN WIARTON ON......POTOMAC PHIL IN wASHINGTON DC.....AND SHUBENACADIE SAM FROM NOVA SCOTIA........WHAT ARE THEY ALL GOING TO SAY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE GET AN EARLY SPRING, WILL THE DECISION BE SPLIT , OR WILL ALL AGREE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER?? CHECK BACK FRIDAY FOR ALL THE ANSWERS!!......Groundhog Day is NOT a public holiday in the United States and Canada.In the vein of strange holidays and their traditions, the United States and Canada honor an odd burrowing rodent, proclaiming its amazing ability to forecast the coming of favorable spring weather. This day is known as Groundhog Day, and it’s celebrated on February 2 every year. It is said that if the groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, winter-like conditions will persist for another six weeks.History of Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada.

The origin of Groundhog Day has many theories. Looking deeply into history, it’s been noted by historians that the old Julian calendar marked the spring equinox on March 16, exactly six weeks after February 2. Some suggest that when the Gregorian calendar took greater prominence, a folk tradition may have been born with the mingling of the two calendars.Others suggest it originated with Candlemas and the earlier ritual of Imbolc that is associated with it. Imbolc is an old Gaelic and Celtic tradition that has many similarities to Groundhog Day in that a badger or serpent was used to prognosticate future weather. Candles and fires were and still are lit for followers of the custom, offering a representation of spring’s coming warmth.First mentions of the practice in America come from an 1841 diary entry, mentioning Candlemas and the German belief that “the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap…”In the United States in 1886, an editor for The Punxsutawney Spirit wrote an article about the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club of Pennsylvania, a club that went out every year in search of groundhogs for their Candlemas Day. Catching the attention of many, the following year brought about the first Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Every groundhog used during the ceremony has since been called Punxsutawney Phil.Eventually, Canada adopted the practice in 1956, but not without an interesting story attached to it. It is said that Canada’s Groundhog Day tradition started with Mac McKenzie of Wiarton, Ontario. The story goes that McKenzie, wanting to show off his childhood home, sent invitations to his friends and family for a Groundhog Day gathering.