Groundhog Day

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I don't know is there is a counterpart of this observance in other parts of the world, but in America, February 2nd (winter's mid-point in the northern hemisphere) is Groundhog Day. The "official" rodent lives at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. On that day, people gather at the spot and some committee officials pull the sleeping and probably confused animal out of it's lair. If it sees its shadow - six more weeks of winter ensues. If it doesn't see its shadow, an early spring is predicted. This ceremony is telecast on The Weather Channel.

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We are behind almost three feet on snowfall totals for this winter!
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debodun said:
I don't know is there is a counterpart of this observance in other parts of the world, but in America, February 2nd (winter's mid-point in the northern hemisphere) is Groundhog Day. The "official" rodent lives at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. On that day, people gather at the spot and some committee officials pull the sleeping and probably confused animal out of it's lair. If it sees its shadow - six more weeks of winter ensues. If it doesn't see its shadow, an early spring is predicted. This ceremony is telecast on The Weather Channel.

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In these parts, we have Wiarton Willie (Willy?) .. cousin to Phil :)
 
debodun said:
Groundhog Day
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A few years back when I was living in the city I had a ground hog experience. One moved into my yard and started digging under the house. Undermining the foundation.

I decided to get rid of it. First I tried flooding him out and only succeeded in flooding the basement. Then I got a have a heart trap and tried to catch him. After catching a bunch of the neighbors cats and a couple of possums I gave that up. Then I found a smoke bomb thing that was supposed to drive groundhogs out. Put a couple into the den and drove myself out of the house, took a couple of days to air it out...

Finally I got my 30-06 deer rifle, turned the lights out and waited with the door open. When he finally appeared, and I was sure I had a safe shot I took it. That worked, only time I've shot inside a house, really quite loud. But fortunately none of the neighbors noticed.

That was the end of my groundhog experience, definitely not his day. I was lucky none ever came back to replace him...
 
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