 |
| GroundHog Day Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania 2005 |
Yesterday was Groundhog Day and in our area, the sun
shone brightly, so we will see six more weeks of winter weather. Since I’m in Texas
our winters are usually not that bad and this year we’ve been very lucky. So
far, knock on wood, no snow or ice.
But how did this custom get started? According to
Wikipedia, a diary entry dated February 4, 1841 is the first documented
American recording of this German custom.
In Scotland, the Poem:
If
Candle-mas Day is bright and clear,
.jpg)
There’ll
be two winters in the year.
If
Candle mas be fair and bright,
Winter
has another flight.If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.
Here in the United States, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
is the where the biggest celebration of Groundhog Day occurs with Punxsutawney
Phil the celebrity groundhog. Crowds as large as 40,000 people have gathered to
celebrate this holiday with food, speeches, and plays. At Grundsow Lodge, the
holiday is celebrated with only the Pennsylvania German dialect spoken at the
event. If you speak English, you pay a penalty for each word spoken.
If you’ve not seen the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliot, I
highly recommend that you rent it. Poor Bill Murray is trapped in a time loop
and every morning when he wakes up its Groundhog Day all over again. It’s a film
that will remind you of what’s important and how we can become trapped by our
priorities.
So with Groundhog Days arrival, are you ready for spring
or do you want six more weeks of winter?
Information and pictures retrieved from Wikipedia. Movie Poster owned by Columbia Pictures.
13 comments:
Wow, what an interesting blog, Sylvia! I had no idea and thank you for sharing.
this year I'm ignoring Phil and going with Staten Island Chuck- he said early spring !
and I love those covers - great series!
I hope he was really wrong as I had to cancel my pedi and hair cut as we are getting some more early snow today. Love the poem it is really nice of you to post that!
The history of groundhog day is interesting. No matter what the groundhog says, I am ready for Spring! I have had enough of the cold and bad roads. Did you see where that Mayor got bit on the ear by the groundhog? Ouch!
I'm already read for Spring to begin. And Sylvia I love the move Groundhog Day, it's so funny and touching at the same time.
And I agree with Chris, love the covers of your series.
Vicki,
Yes, I was going to write this weeks blog about Valentine's Day, but I wasn't feeling the love. I was cold and kept thinking about Spring. That's when I decided to go with Groundhog day.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the comment on my covers. I love them too. Ruby is getting close to being completed and then next will be Hannah's story.
I'm with you on being ready for Spring and right now any varmint that wants to predict Spring is good with me.
PT Clayton,
I loved that poem as well. I thought that was pretty neat. Sorry about the mani/pedi...I'm needing one as well.
Hi Kim,
Yes, I did see where the Mayor got bit. The whole process seems kind of silly to me. You guys have had a lot more snow than we have - which has been none this year. But this upper respiratory infection made me long for spring.
Kathy,
You know I'm really not a big Bill Murray fan, but I loved that movie and the message of it. Did you see where they're redoing Ghost Busters and they will be women instead of men? Love it.
I never pay much attention to the groundhog, or any other rodents for that matter!
Thanks for the informative post, Sylvia!
That is one of my favorite movies Sylvia and if this dates me...oh well...but I went to see this movie when it came out in the theatres :)
We pretty much enjoy our winters here in sunny Phoenix, though we do get cold weather here and there.
Here in the Pacific Northwest spring means slightly warmer (5-10 degrees) but still wet and gray and soggy and mizzly and... You get the idea.
BUT...everything is green!
Post a Comment