Lesson 6 Practice Session 6B: File B:


Groundhog Day:

Feb. 2 is the date that Europeans know as Candlemas Day,
celebrating the purifiction of the Virgin Mary after her
delivery of the infant Jesus.  For obscure reasons,
the weather on this late-winter day is thought to be
a reverse indicator of future weather.

Fine weather indicated a prolonged winter while
cloudy weather indicated an early spring.

From the Middle ages, folks believed that 
hibernating animals (bears, badgers, and hedgehogs)
left their dens to inspect the weather on 
Candlemas Day and, if they saw their shadow,
planting should be delayed for several weeks.

In American the groundhog replaced the European
hedgehog.  The groundhog or woodchuck does not
resemble the spiny hedgehog.  If the German
settlers who brought this tradition to America
had paid more attention, we'd now
be celebrating Porcupine Day.*


*from Curious Customs by Tad Tuleja, 1987