Happy February Second to all the dear hearts and gentle people who live and love in my family's home town. The people there sure know how to brighten up a dreary winter and have been doing so for over 120 years by celebrating Groundhog Day at Candlemas. I'm proud to say that I am a card-carrying affiliate of the groundhog-related events in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. My first cousin Bill ("President") and my sister's husband Bob ("His Protector") are among those top-hatted men in tails who respectfully inquire at dawn of the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, about the weather to come in the next six weeks.
I have been on Gobbler's Knob at dawn on February 2nd,and you have to be there to believe it. The whole town apparently stays up all night, along with thousands of college students from all over the east coast in anticipation of the main event. Luminaries also attend, like Bill Murray, of course, preceding the famous movie. It's an all night happy raucous outdoor party on a wooded hillside, very well lit, with music and entertainment on stage all through the night, for people of all ages. No advertising or drinking allowed, supposedly, although I have seen an advertising blimp fly overhead and the atmosphere is suspiciously Bacchanalian in its conviviality. It's so much fun! Licensed groundhog t-shirts, hats, blankets, cups and more are available in town and from the Groundhog Association all year long, if you want to get ready for next year. Check out http://www.groundhog.org/
Turns out the groundhog saw his shadow this morning, and here's the AP news release:
Associated Press: PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — "If you believe in folklore, bundle up for six more weeks of wintry weather.
This is Groundhog Day, and the furry little critter known as Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning. That, according to tradition, means six more weeks of winter.
The apathetic-looking rodent was pulled from his stump by members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle. They are the local businessmen in the Western Pennsylvania town who carry out the February 2nd ritual while garbed in top hats and tuxedos.
The ceremony was preceded by a boisterous celebration attended by thousands of cold, but happy people, including a few couples who used the occasion to get engaged.
The town of Punxsutawney leads the modern observance of what is essentially a German superstition. The belief is that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on February 2nd, the Christian holiday of Candlemas, winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow were seen, legend said spring would come early."
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