Sunday, the 2nd of February! It’s Groundhog Day!.
And I said it in the above title..
THERE’S ONLY ONE!.. Punxsutawney Phil..
https://www.groundhog.org/
I thank NATIONAL TODAY / NATIONAL DAY CALENDAR Holiday.. The sources of most, but not 100%, of the information on our various “Days” such as these four “Holidays”.
Groundhog Day on February 2 is when we ask are we in for six more weeks of Winter? Only a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil knows for sure. Each year on Groundhog Day, people flock to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to await the forecast of the local rodent celebrity. Originating with German settlers, who came to Pennsylvania in the 1700s and brought their seasonal superstitions with them, legend has it that if Phil sees his shadow on February 2, the winter chill will continue. Oddly, if the weather is cloudy and he doesn’t see his shadow, we can expect warmer temperatures and early spring. Groundhog Day is a tradition to be cherished. And yes, it is also a film starring Bill Murray.
The Pennsylvania Dutch were German-speaking immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. They developed their own take on the legend of Candlemas in the 18th and 19th centuries bringing with them the custom of the native Groundhog as their annual weather announcer. Candlemas involved the clergy blessing and distributing candles needed for winter. The Pennsylvania Dutch transformed the idea by selecting an animal to predict their needs for winter.
The first-ever Groundhog Day was created by a local newspaper editor Clymer Freas around 1886, who convinced Groundhog hunter and local businessman, and all members of his Punxsutawney Groundhog club on the idea of Groundhog Day. Together, they all made their way to Gobbler’s Knob where the Groundhog would make the final decision on the weather. Today, a group called the inner circle who wear top hats, conduct the official proceedings on February 2 in a Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, where tens of thousands of people attend the day’s events every year.
Studies have proven no strong correlation between a Groundhog spotting its own shadow and the arrival of spring subsequently. According to German lore, the badger known as Dachs is their forecasting animal. A separate version of traditions states that clear weather on the holy Christian day of Candlemas would often prohibit winter being prolonged.
Groundhog lore suggests much about Punxsutawney Phil. It is said that he drinks a magic ‘‘elixir of life’’ every summer, giving him seven more years to live. He has been predicting since around 1886, and a badger’s life span is around six years roughly, so go figure. There is also supposedly only one Phil and any other groundhogs who attempt to do what he does, are imposters. He is said to speak to the club president on the day, in front of the crowds in Groundhogese which is understood and then translated.
Good By until next year Punxsutawney Phil
Late Breaking News.
Punxsutawney Phil woke up on Sunday and saw his shadow, meaning we are destined for six more weeks of winter, according to legend.
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I was curious about the following “Rodent Holidays”.
Hedgehog Day, on February 2, tends to live in the “shadow” of Groundhog Day.
And yes, there is a difference. You know those cute little balls of joy that have taken social media by storm? We are talking hedgehogs! Thanks to Instagram, these little babies have grown massively in popularity and now have an entire day dedicated to celebrating them. Want one as a pet? That’s a thorny subject. Read on to discover what it’s like to bring one of these cute creatures into your home.
Hedgehogs were used before groundhogs to figure out when spring would arrive. So you can thank hedgehogs for Groundhog Day.
You can (maybe) have one as a pet. It depends on where you live. They are not legal everywhere. The upside? They sure are adorable. Plus, they’re quiet. The only noise they tend to make is a cute purring sound. However, having a hedgehog as a pet is something that takes dedication and care, as they are not your typical house pet. Make sure to do your research!
Hedgehogs are fine with being alone. We don’t suggest leaving your little hedgehog alone all the time, but since they are solitary creatures, they will not get depressed if you’re stuck at work for the day. Just be sure to give them attention when you can.
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Just look at this. It is an Alaskan holiday established to celebrate marmots and Alaskan culture.
Marmot Day takes place on February 2 every year. Although local festivals have been part of frontier life for decades, Marmot Day became an official holiday in 2009, when the 26th Alaska State Legislature officially passed Senate Bill 58.
Marmots are large rodents with characteristically short but robust legs, enlarged claws well adapted to digging, stout bodies, and large heads and incisors to quickly process a variety of vegetation. These herbivores are active during the summer when often found in groups, but are rarely seen during the winter when they hibernate underground.
Marmots typically live in burrows and hibernate there through the winter. Most marmots are highly social and use loud whistles to communicate with one another, especially when alarmed. They mainly eat greens and many types of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers.
Marmot Day is a celebration of marmots, established on April 18, 2009, to celebrate the interesting creature. It is a popular North American tradition that derives from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition. It has become a popular observance throughout the United States and Canada, and even in some places abroad.
A luncheon is traditional as part of the celebration, marmot jokes and ginger snaps are shared, among other festivities typical of party celebrations. In recent years, the celebration has been held at the Covenant Eyes global headquarters in Shiawassee County. At 12:45 p.m., a marmot is positioned outside its hole, and if it goes into its hole, legend has it summer is over; if it does not go into its hole, it is believed there will be one more month of summer.
Since its establishment over a decade ago, marmot day has become a well-loved Alaskan tradition. It celebrates Alaskan wildlife and helps preserve Alaska’s folk traditions that have declined over the years. The two animals are not exactly the same. Groundhogs are a type of marmot, and marmots are closely related to squirrels. Yellow-bellied marmots are native to the mountainous region of the western U.S., while groundhogs usually live east of the Rocky Mountains. Also, marmots are social, while groundhogs are solitary and protective of their territory. Because marmots are wild animals, they do not make the best companions, and it is illegal to own one as a pet in the United States.
Marmots are cute and curious mammals that can be fun to watch do their things. They help showcase nature’s beauty and awesomeness.
Marmots are an inherent part of Alaskan culture. This day helps preserve the sanctity of that culture.
The day helps draw attention to the declining marmot numbers and attempts to put an end to the man-made factors causing this reduction. This ultimately helps achieve a balanced ecosystem in the long run.
I know. Does anybody care!
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Now look at what we still have on February the 2nd.
Sled Dog Day is celebrated every year on February 2. This is a day set aside to honor the hardest-working dog breed — the sled dogs. These large dogs are trained to wear a harness and pull heavy weights in the coldest regions. They were the only means of transport in areas such as the Arctic for thousands of years and are still the most reliable way to transport supplies in the more rural areas.
Sled dogs played an important role in the exploration of the Arctic and the Antarctic poles and were instrumental during the Alaskan Gold Rush.
Sled dogs are popular in the coldest regions of the world. They’ve been used in Canada, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Finland, Siberia, and, closer to home, Alaska.
Thought to have been crossbred with wolves, sled dogs have been specifically bred to be large and capable of carrying really heavy weight across large distances. In America, sled dogs were first kept by the Inuit people for transportation.
During the Alaskan Gold Rush, the only way to access the gold camps in winter was by dog sled. Any supplies — from food to medication — would need to be moved by dogsled in winter because there was no other transportation available at the time. Sled dogs were also used to deliver mail.
Yes! Enough!
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Cap and Patti