With February 2 rapidly approaching I thought it might be fun to explore the phenomenon of these notable prognosticators. (Just some big words meaning I want to discuss the whys of the weather-predicting rodents of North America.)

Where Did It Come From?

In both Canada and the United States, Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2. This is the chosen date because it is halfway between the winter solstice (or beginning of winter) and the spring equinox (or the beginning of spring) meaning that winter is half over. It is believed by some that Groundhog Day got its beginnings from early Christianity, February 2 is Candlemas Day, a day when handmade beeswax candles were blessed and handed out to people in the dark of winter, to be placed in the window. If the sun came out that day there would be six more weeks of winter, but if it was cloudy and overcast, spring would arrive soon. There is a Candlemas Day recitation that helps explain, it goes like this:

If Candlemas day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight. If Candlemas day brings clouds and rain, Winter is gone and won't come again.

There were those of the belief that hibernating creatures were able to predict the arrival of springtime by their emergence from their burrows. Brought to North America in the 18^th Century by early German settlers was the belief that these creatures, initially a hedgehog, being frightened by their shadows on Candlemas would foretell that winter would last another six weeks as they would then retreat to their burrows to hide. Should the day be overcast and no shadow seen, they would stay above ground and go about their business as normal, meaning winter would soon end. The groundhog, being more plentiful in North America than the hedgehog, and also being a hibernating creature was thusly substituted.

Groundhog Day has become a very celebrated day for those places lucky enough to have their very own furry forecasters. In some places entire weekend celebrations are created around this hairy creature and his vernal prognostications.

Famous Furry Forecasters

There are a few ‘well-known’ groundhogs, but none as well known as Punxsutawney Phil who lives in Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Find more about him here: http://www.groundhog.org/info/

Another notable groundhog is Canada’s Wiarton Willie, who resides in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula in Wiarton, Ontario. A fuzzy little albino groundhog whose predictions have been correct an amazing 90% of the time! Find out more about him here: http://www.brucepeninsula.org/willie.htm

A Critter Scandal!

A snippet of a news article from February of 2007 speaks of Canada’s famous land beaver and a scandal!! Read on:

“Wiarton, you see, is home to Canada's great groundhog scandal, "Willigate." In 1999, the 22-year-old albino Willie was found dead in his burrow only two days before Feb 2. A replacement couldn't be found on such short notice so organizers offered instead a funeral. The "Willie" in the coffin later turned out to be a stuffed groundhog, because the real Willie had died so long before, his decomposed remains couldn't be presented at the funeral. Many felt duped.

A new Willie stepped in for the last seven years, but wouldn't you know it, this past July, he died. Environment Canada's Dave Philips is not surprised; it was probably the stress.

"Last year, Wiarton Willie didn't see his shadow, predicting that spring was on its way. And he was wrong! Last winter lasted forever. He's never gotten it so wrong!" the climatologist railed to CTV.ca.

"No wonder he died. It was probably stress and death threats."

Phillips concedes "there is a strand of truth" to the groundhog legend. Sunny days in winter are generally associated with colder, drier arctic air and cloudy days come with milder, moist air.”

Read the full article here: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070202/wiarton_willie_070202/20070202?hub=TopStories

Other Honourable Mentions

Here in Nova Scotia we have the not-so-well-known Shubenacadie Sam who resides at the Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park, his claim to fame is being the first forecaster of the new year in North America because of Nova Scotia’s time zone.

A Few More Furry Mentions

Balzac Billy (Balzac, Alberta)

Birmingham Bill (Birmingham, Alabama)

Brandon Bob (Manitoba, Canada)

Buckeye Chuck (Marion, Ohio)

Dunkirk Dave (Western New York)

French Creek Freddie (West Virginia State Wildlife Center, Upshur County, W. Virginia)

Gary the Groundhog (Kleinburg, Ontario)

General Beauregard Lee (Yellow River Game Ranch, Lilburn, Georgia)

Holtsville Hal (Long Island, New York)

Jimmy the Groundhog (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin)

Malverne Mel and Malverne Melissa (Malverne, New York)

Manitoba Merv (Oak Hammock Marsh, Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Octoraro Orphie (Quarryville, Pennsylvania)

Pardon Me Pete (Tampa, Florida)

Pothole Pete (New York, New York)

Sir Walter Wally (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina)

Smith Lake Jake (Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham, Alabama)

Spanish Joe (Spanish, Ontario)

Staten Island Chuck (Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island, New York) 

My View 

I don’t think I really hold any stock in the thought that a critter can predict the weather, I do think the idea is entertaining and if it gets people together to have a little fun, then who am I to knock it? All I know is February 2 is the halfway mark and Spring will get here eventually.