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The Groundhog Day Story
Groundhog Day is held on the second of February each month. This day is considered a cross-quarter day, falling between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.It is said that if the groundhog emerges from its burrow on the second of February and sees its shadow, the groundhog will be frightened and retreat back into its den. Then, America will receive six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, we can expect an early spring.
German and French, and Celtic beliefs have influenced this notion. The superstition has its roots in the pagan belief that animals can be communed with to obtain secrets about the future. This practice was Christianized and turned into Candlemas, a European holiday during which people would look to the weather pattern on the cross-quarter day to determine future weather patterns. The following Scottish poem tells us about how people viewed Candlemas:
As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and rain
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop
Today, we understand that this is nothing but superstition. No one believes that the actions of the groundhog actually have any bearing on weather patterns. It’s just an old tradition that we still celebrate as a fun family activity.