Groundhog Day
Posted by TheFallen on February 05, 2003
In Reply to: Groundhog Day posted by James Briggs on February 05, 2003
: The concept of Groundhog Day was
virtually unkonwn in the UK, and other countries I suspect, until the advent of
the film.
: The 'Times' weather section on Tuesday caried the following:
:
: Paul Simons
: Weather Eye
: SUNDAY was Groundhog Day in America: if
a groundhog emerging from its burrow casts a shadow it forecasts six more weeks
of winter, but no shadow means that spring will come early. This year the groundhog's
shadow predicted more cold, after an already bitter winter.
: This folklore
originates from Candlemas Day, February 2, in Europe when farmers looked for signs
of the weather in spring:
: "If Candlemas Day be fair and bright/ Winter will
have another flight/ But if Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain/ Winter is gone
and won't come again."
: Hedgehogs and bears waking from hibernation were
also said to forecast the weather, and when European settlers arrived in North
America they looked to the groundhog for weather predictions. So is there any
truth in the power of animals to forecast the weather? A groundhog's shadow means
that the weather is sunny, and possibly dominated by a high-pressure system, which
brings clear skies and cold conditions. A grey sky or weak sun gives no shadow
and may be caused by a wet and mild low-pressure system.
: These forecasts
are only good for a day or two ahead. As for six weeks, the records show that
the groundhog is a terrible long-range forecaster.
Groundhog day is becoming better-known in the UK. I heard a shocking piece on UK radio over the weekend, debunking the theory that the behaviour of Punxatawnie Phil (sp?) isn't affected by his opinions on forthcoming weather patterns at all, but that it is more directly linked to the state of his libido when he awakens.
Is nothing sacred?
- Groundhog Day Jamie 02/06/03