That’s right! It’s February 2nd…Groundhog Day! If you are not familiar with this particular observance, this is how the whole thing works. Early in the morning on Februay 2nd, people gather around the burrow of a Marmota monax; a large rodent also known as the whistle pig, eastern marmot, southern marmot, monk, woodchuck, or groundhog. It is believed that if the groundhog sees his shadow when he climbs out of the burrow, there will be six more weeks of cold, wintery weather. On the other hand, if he doesn’t wee his shadow, the warmth of spring will arrive soon. Here’s an additional little nugget to impress your friends with today: Groundhog Day is a cross-quarter day. That means it fall halfway between the Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox.
There are a number of cities that host their own Groundhog Day celebrations…complete with their own groundhogs. Here are some of the results from this year:
Jimmy the Groundhog (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin): Six more weeks of winter
Punxsutawney Phil (Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania): Six more weeks of winter
Wiarton Willie (Wiarton, Ontario): Six more weeks of winter
General Beauregard Lee (Lilburn, Georgia): Early Spring
Queen Charlotte (Charlotte, North Carolina): Early Spring
Pee Wee (Mile Square Farm, Vermont): Six more weeks of winter
Dunkirk Dave (Dunkirk, New York): Early Spring
I know what you are asking. Is there any science behind this whole Groundhog Day thing? I did a bit of research and this is what I found out.
Historically, people have observed animal behavior for clues to changes in the weather. For example, geese flying south is a sign of the coming of fall. The reappearance of hibernating or inactive animals is a sign of winter’s end. When German settlers came to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, they selected the groundhog as their seasonal forecaster.
There may also be a meteorological explanation for groundhog day. It is thought that the observance may have roots in a weather phenomenon described in the Scottish poem below:
If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There’ll be two winters in the year.
The idea behind this poem can be found in cultures around the world. In the poem, Candlemas Day refers to February 2nd…Groundhog Day. Farmers in ancient Europe noticed that bright, clear winter days are often very cold. We now know that this is caused by high pressure systems. Areas of high pressure pull cold air down from the north. They also sweep away any clouds that might have provided insulation. Consequently, a bright winter day (one on which a groundhog may see a shadow) may be an indication of more cold days to come.
Of course, none of this is sound evidence that groundhog can actually predict the coming of spring. Instead, groundhogs day can be seen as a celebration of the role of scientific observation and prediction in our world. Every day, we make observations about the world around us, attempt to make meaning of those observations, and create predictions about the way things will happen in the future. Groundhog Day is wonderful example of this. Over the course of time, we have combined our observations of animal behavior and weather to create a system for predicting spring. Does it work? Well, that is a question I will leave to you and your children to explore.
Other great sites to check out on Groundhog Day:
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