Well is official.....DID NOT SEE HE'S SHADOW......that means.........EARLY SPRING............ according to Phil.
Everything you need to know: Groundhog Day 2011
U.S. and Canadian Groundhog Day comes every year on February 2. It has its roots in astronomy, and it's a great excuse for outdoor winter revelry, if a snowdrift isn't blocking your front door.
February 2nd, 2011 - Astronomy Essentials
Happy Groundhog Day 2011! With another snowpocalypse on the U.S. east cost today blotting out the sun, it’s likely the world-famous Punxsutawney Phil groundhog in Punxsutawney, PA will not see his shadow. And you know what that means: an early spring! Believe it or not.
Ah, Groundhog Day. This U.S. and Canadian tradition comes every year on February 2. It has its roots in astronomy, and it’s a great excuse to go outside and enjoy some revelry during the winter months, assuming a snowdrift isn’t blocking your front door.
We all know the rules. On February 2, a groundhog is said to forecast weather by looking for his shadow. If it’s sunny out, and he sees it, we’re in for six more weeks of winter. On the other hand, a cloudy Groundhog Day is supposed to forecast an early spring.
... the great weather prognosticator, His Majesty, the Punxsutawney Groundhog.
Of course, it can’t be cloudy, or sunny, everywhere. And many towns in the U.S. and Canada have their own local groundhogs and local traditions for Groundhog Day. But by far the most famous of the February 2 shadow-seeking groundhogs is still Punxsutawney Phil. He’s in Punxsutawney, in western Pennsylvania, which calls itself the “original home of the great weather prognosticator, His Majesty, the Punxsutawney Groundhog.”
Since 1887, members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club have held public celebrations of Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney is where Bill Murray was in the movie Groundhog Day. From the looks of things … a good time is had by all.
What you may not know is that Groundhog Day is really an astronomical holiday. It’s an event that takes place in Earth’s orbit around the sun, as we move between the solstices and equinoxes.
Does the sun rise due east and set due west at the equinox?
In other words, Groundhog Day falls more or less midway between the December solstice and the March equinox. It’s one of the year’s four cross-quarter days. Each cross-quarter day is actually a collection of dates, and various traditions celebrate various holidays at this time. February 2 is the year’s first cross-quarter day. It’s also marked by the celebration of Candlemas by some Christians, such as the Roman Catholics.
The celebration of Groundhog Day came to America along with immigrants from Great Britain and Germany. The tradition can be traced to early Christians in Europe, when a hedgehog was said to look for his shadow on Candlemas Day.
Try this old English rhyme: If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight. But if it be dark with clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.
Or here’s another old saying: Half your wood and half your hay, you should have on Candlemas Day.
In Germany it used to be said: A shepherd would rather see a wolf enter his stable on Candlemas Day than see the sun shine. There, a badger was said to watch for his shadow.
A friend on Facebook said that, in Portugal, people have a poem about February 2 related to the Lady of Candles. Here is the poem: Quando a Senhora das Candeias está a rir está o inverno para vir, quando está a chorar está o inverno a acabar. Here is the translation: If she smiles (Sun) the winter is yet to come, if she cries (Rain) the winter is over.
One final note. It’s supposed to be bad luck to leave your Christmas decorations up after Groundhog Day.
The National Geographic Society once studied the groundhog and found him right only one out of every three times. But what the heck? It’s all in good fun. So whether you celebrate with a real groundhog and a real shadow – or just pause a moment on this day to reflect on the passing of the seasons – happy Groundhog Day!
Everything you need to know: Groundhog Day 2011
U.S. and Canadian Groundhog Day comes every year on February 2. It has its roots in astronomy, and it's a great excuse for outdoor winter revelry, if a snowdrift isn't blocking your front door.
February 2nd, 2011 - Astronomy Essentials
Happy Groundhog Day 2011! With another snowpocalypse on the U.S. east cost today blotting out the sun, it’s likely the world-famous Punxsutawney Phil groundhog in Punxsutawney, PA will not see his shadow. And you know what that means: an early spring! Believe it or not.
Ah, Groundhog Day. This U.S. and Canadian tradition comes every year on February 2. It has its roots in astronomy, and it’s a great excuse to go outside and enjoy some revelry during the winter months, assuming a snowdrift isn’t blocking your front door.
We all know the rules. On February 2, a groundhog is said to forecast weather by looking for his shadow. If it’s sunny out, and he sees it, we’re in for six more weeks of winter. On the other hand, a cloudy Groundhog Day is supposed to forecast an early spring.
... the great weather prognosticator, His Majesty, the Punxsutawney Groundhog.
Of course, it can’t be cloudy, or sunny, everywhere. And many towns in the U.S. and Canada have their own local groundhogs and local traditions for Groundhog Day. But by far the most famous of the February 2 shadow-seeking groundhogs is still Punxsutawney Phil. He’s in Punxsutawney, in western Pennsylvania, which calls itself the “original home of the great weather prognosticator, His Majesty, the Punxsutawney Groundhog.”
Since 1887, members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club have held public celebrations of Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney is where Bill Murray was in the movie Groundhog Day. From the looks of things … a good time is had by all.
What you may not know is that Groundhog Day is really an astronomical holiday. It’s an event that takes place in Earth’s orbit around the sun, as we move between the solstices and equinoxes.
Does the sun rise due east and set due west at the equinox?
In other words, Groundhog Day falls more or less midway between the December solstice and the March equinox. It’s one of the year’s four cross-quarter days. Each cross-quarter day is actually a collection of dates, and various traditions celebrate various holidays at this time. February 2 is the year’s first cross-quarter day. It’s also marked by the celebration of Candlemas by some Christians, such as the Roman Catholics.
The celebration of Groundhog Day came to America along with immigrants from Great Britain and Germany. The tradition can be traced to early Christians in Europe, when a hedgehog was said to look for his shadow on Candlemas Day.
Try this old English rhyme: If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight. But if it be dark with clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.
Or here’s another old saying: Half your wood and half your hay, you should have on Candlemas Day.
In Germany it used to be said: A shepherd would rather see a wolf enter his stable on Candlemas Day than see the sun shine. There, a badger was said to watch for his shadow.
A friend on Facebook said that, in Portugal, people have a poem about February 2 related to the Lady of Candles. Here is the poem: Quando a Senhora das Candeias está a rir está o inverno para vir, quando está a chorar está o inverno a acabar. Here is the translation: If she smiles (Sun) the winter is yet to come, if she cries (Rain) the winter is over.
One final note. It’s supposed to be bad luck to leave your Christmas decorations up after Groundhog Day.
The National Geographic Society once studied the groundhog and found him right only one out of every three times. But what the heck? It’s all in good fun. So whether you celebrate with a real groundhog and a real shadow – or just pause a moment on this day to reflect on the passing of the seasons – happy Groundhog Day!
