HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!

[Fred in Skirts]

IG-Post_Groundhog-Day_1200sq-1-950x950.jpg

[Fred in Skirts]

The First Celebration

Punxsutawney Phil is the focal point of the oldest and largest annual Groundhog Day celebration, held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to groundhog.org, 1886 marked the first time that Groundhog Day appeared in Punxsutawney newspaper, but 1887 was the first time the official trek to Gobbler’s Knob took place. Members of Phil’s “Inner Circle” claim that he is now way over 100 years old, thanks to a magical life-extending serum they feed him each year—and that his predictions are 100 percent accurate.

Phil Is Not The Only Prognosticator! Other Groundhog Forecasters
Closeup shot of a groundhog

Phil may be the most famous, but there are a number of other groundhogs that hold court at celebrations across North America (many of which are holding virtual events in 2021). They include:

Balzac Billy in Balzac, Alberta, Canada
Buckeye Chuck in Ohio
Dunkirk Dave in Dunkirk, New York
Gary the Groundhog in Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada
General Beauregard Lee in Atlanta, Georgia
Holtsville Hal, Suffolk County, Long Island, N.Y. (See video below!)
Jimmy the Groundhog in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Malverne Mel and Melissa in Malverne, New York
Octoraro Orphie in Quarryville, Pennsylvania
Pardon Me Pete in Tampa, Florida
Shubenacadie Sam in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada
Sir Walter Wally in Raleigh, N.C.,
Spanish Joe of Spanish, Ontario
Staten Island Chuck in New York City
Wiarton Willie in Wiarton, Ontario, Canada

[crfriend]

Marmot mania. I've not seen any of ours since autumn.

[denimini]

?

[crfriend]

?

The North American "groundhog" (aka "woodchuck", "whistle-pig", and a couple of other colourful regional names) is a moderate-sized rodent that's part of the marmot family. Hence my crack about "Marmot Mania". We have a few living here on the property, but I've not seen any of them as they go dormant in the winter.

[denimini]

Thanks, I was wondering more about the cultural significance to be designating a day to them. Do you race them, gamble and drink lots of beer?

[crfriend]

Thanks, I was wondering more about the cultural significance to be designating a day to them. Do you race them, gamble and drink lots of beer?

Nope, it's merely yet another distraction from the dreadful monotony of northern North American winters. I consumed no more beer yesterday (that I am aware of) because it was "Groundhog Day"; it was just another day in the life.

It was the theme, though, for a rather hilarious motion picture a few years ago, quite possibly capable of being seen on YouTube.