Weather-predicting Woodchucks

Ah, yes, it is Groundhog's Day. That extremely odd holiday when we celebrate (or don't) the shadow of a marmot. Where did we get this holiday? A little clarity is needed.

I know some people who like it because it is their birthday, some who like it because it is so obscure, but many more who forget to celebrate it altogether because it is neither their birthday nor a major holiday with attendant grocery store candy. I, myself, am somewhat torn as to whether or not I like Groundhog's Day. I always remember it, but find it a bit difficult to settle on an appropriate celebration ritual.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know of my intense love for Spring. You will also know of my intense dislike of groundhogs. Thus my conundrum: if the rodent sees his shadow, there are 6 weeks more of wintry weather. If he comes out on a mild, cloudy day, then there are some unspecified number of weeks fewer. If this ground squirrel could be the bringer of consistently good news then I might make a place in my heart for him. But he's fickle and unreliable... not to mention the fact that anyone can see he has no control over the cloudiness of the day! By golly, why isn't it my shadow that predicts spring? Why the groundhog?

Well, the great online encyclopedia says the following about the beginnings of Groundhog's Day: "Perhaps the earliest known American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Historical Society of Berks County in Reading, Pennsylvania. The reference was made February 4, 1841 in Morgantown, Berks County, Pennsylvania storekeeper James Morris' diary: 'Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.'"(The Folklore of American Holidays, ed. H. Cohen and T.P. Coffin (1987), page 57)

It also gives this alternative origin theory:
"In western countries in the Northern Hemisphere the official first day of Spring is about six weeks after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or March 21. About 1,000 years ago, before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar when the date of the equinox drifted in the Julian calendar, the spring equinox fell on March 16 instead. This was exactly six weeks after February 2. Assuming that the equinox marked the first day of spring in certain medieval cultures, as it does now in western countries, Groundhog Day occurred exactly six weeks before spring. Therefore, if the groundhog saw his shadow on Groundhog Day there would be six more weeks of winter. If he didn't, there would be 42 more days of winter. In other words, the Groundhog Day tradition may have begun as a bit of folk humor."

Now that's something I can follow: folk humor. I think I feel much better about Groundhog's Day knowing I don't really have to take it seriously. Not that any of America's 10 prognosticating woodchucks could predict how many weeks are left of Vermont's winter, anyway. So I can go on loathing (and relocating) groundhogs whilst celebrating the day that is six weeks prior to the Spring equinox. Hooray, and happy Groundhog's Day!