Happy Groundhog Day!
Posted on February 2, 2006 in Encounters
(last edited on April 29, 2014 at 1:28 am)
(last edited on April 29, 2014 at 1:28 am)
This is one of my favorite holidays, because:
- It’s steeped in tradition and ceremony!
- It involves large hibernating rodents!
- It’s one of those days of the year where you’re allowed to believe in the prognosticative powers of animals, and no one will think you’re (too) insane.
There’s a little more history behind this holiday than I thought; though Groundhog Day in the US is only about a hundred years old, it is derived from Hedgehog Day from Roman times. We just don’t have any hedgehogs here in North America, so we substituted the most convenient rodent. Additionally, the day itself is related to the Spring Equinox that occurs 6 weeks later; the wikipedia article suggests that the “six more weeks of winter” prediction is a bit of folksy humor, since Spring officially starts in 6 weeks anyway.
I haven’t really come up with a good way to personally celebrate Groundhog Day. Anyone have any ideas?
6 Comments
If Groundhog day derives from Hedgehog day, Then:
Hedgehog in Danish is Pinswine (pronounced Pin Sveen, no clue about spelling)- which translates more closely to Porcupine… which in America is yet a third animal, then there are 3 hibernating rodents to celebrate. (if porcupines hibernate)
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watch a bill murray movie! 45 to chose from…
Ideas to celebrate? How about walking outside and checking your own shadow. Since most of us don’t live in Pennsylvania, we should recreate the event where we are.
You could celebrate by playing the same song over and over again to help you imagine you’re Bill Murray… :p
A nice polka song, perhaps :-)
Doh, I saw my shadow! 6 more weeks of winter! :-)