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Groundhog’s Day is a silly, sad excuse for a holiday. I don’t even get the day off work unless I fake illness. The pinnacle of the holiday is the movie. I remember when Groundhog’s Day used to mean something. They used to take it out, and they used to eat it.
Imbolc was the ancient pagan feast that fell halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox—or the 2nd of February. The superstition of that holiday was that if the weather was fair and agreeable on Imbloc then the remainder of the winter would be nasty and stormy. Why did they believe this? Maybe they were right, but they failed to keep detailed meteorological records for posterity.
As pagandom descended, and Christiandom took hold, those weather superstitions were translated into into a similar but differently named holiday called Candlemass. In the spirit of making the pagan holiday less pagan they put a candle in every window, but held to the good weather is a bad omen clause; but they reduced the penalty from “the rest of winter” to six weeks.
Then in the 1700s some of the Europeans who celebrated Candlemass relocated to the New World. As they caretakers of this tradition spread out over the continent they came across Native Americans— in the less Politically Correct vernacular, the people who already lived there, specifically, the Delaware Indians. They had, and apparently shared, a belief that the Groundhog was an ancestor of humans, but of course, they didn’t have any notarized family trees.
The two traditions melded, making it one of if the Groundhog observed a nice sunny day—thus his shadow—he invoked the curse of a longer winter.
The first official Groundhog’s Day was on 2-Feb-1886 in the teeming metropolis of Punxsutawney, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. They named their chosen seer after King Phillip, but since it’s silly to say “King Phillip of Pennsylvania” they just stuck him with “Punxsutawney Phil”.
According to the official website, Phil is on his 120th year working, and still going strong. He has a special elixir that keeps him young and vital (you’d think he’d submit to the M-Prize), and speaks groundhogeese … a very eclectic tongue shared by only by the President of the Inner Circle.
So again we see that all the good holidays stem from the pagans … except Independence Day, and maybe St Patrick’s Day. Make good use of your non-day-off holiday, watch a good flick, join the Punxsutawney Phil Fan Club, and sit down with your family to a delicious groundhog feast.
Mmmmmmmmmmm …
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Only in America…
What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?
I tried explaining groundhog day to a girl from Africa today… she looked at me as if I was insane.
I wonder what special qualifications, tests of will or strength, sacred quests or any other form of hazings one would have to endure to become the President of the Inner Circle…and would you get business card that say the same…
MeasureMan said: “What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?”
I’m a junior in high school, so yeah, pretty good description of my life.
Has anybody experienced anything resembling winter this year? Global warming seems to be making this holiday somewhat moot… unless maybe they adapt it to new circumstances. If the Groundhog climbs out of its hole and doesn’t spontaneously combust, our planet’s atmosphere may come back.
Robert Waugh said: “Has anybody experienced anything resembling winter this year? Global warming seems to be making this holiday somewhat moot… unless maybe they adapt it to new circumstances. If the Groundhog climbs out of its hole and doesn’t spontaneously combust, our planet’s atmosphere may come back.”
Well I live in Alaska and we just got out of a -50 F cold snap. I must say I consider that winter. Clearly, global warming doesn’t apply to Alaska…just like free shipping
I love woodchucks. They taste just like chicken. Better! KP
“teeming metropolis of Punxsutawney, Philadelphia.” ?
jbeaton78 said: “”teeming metropolis of Punxsutawney, Philadelphia.” ?”
i think it’s called “sarcasm”…
jbeaton78 said: “”teeming metropolis of Punxsutawney, Philadelphia.” ?”
Yeah, I’m a bit confused about that as well. Shouldn’t it be “Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania“?
I didn’t get it.
Up here in Canada we have 4 ground hogs doing the winter/spring predictions. Nova Scotia’s Subenacadie Sam, Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, Manitoba Merv and Balzac Billy from Balzac, Alberta. Here in Ontario we are supposed to be in the dead of winter but winter appears to be just dead for us.
Arcangel said: “Up here in Canada we have 4 ground hogs doing the winter/spring predictions. Nova Scotia’s Subenacadie Sam, Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, Manitoba Merv and Balzac Billy from Balzac, Alberta. Here in Ontario we are supposed to be in the dead of winter but winter appears to be just dead for us.”
Winter is also dead in Alberta. Climate change, if understood as well as we think it is, is effecting us a lot.
Secret Ninja said: “I’m a junior in high school, so yeah, pretty good description of my life.”
I’ve only been out of highschool for a few years, but believe me, you’ll barely remember what the cafeteria looks like in 5-10 years.
Where the hell do they get the names for these things? …cause there awesome
king porky said: “I love woodchucks. They taste just like chicken. Better! KP”
I’ve always wondered just what exactly is a groundhog/woodchuck?!!
They don’t look like hogs, and they dont live in trees and throw (or chuck) sticks, so what the hell are they??
They look a cross breed between beavers or moles and giant fat prairie dogs to me. Could any one enlighten me on this? Thanks! :)? Oh and BTW, DI article Jason,I just love it when someone points out how “far” removed our modern beliefs are from our “Pagan” ancestors. LOL
Major mistake.
The holiday is not IMBLOC. It is IMBOLC.
=)
Please rectify?
Fírinne said: “Major mistake.
The holiday is not IMBLOC. It is IMBOLC.
“
I wouldn’t call it any kind of mistake, every link on the first page of Google refers to candlemass when searching imbloc. When dealing with terms this old, there are commonly differing spellings in use.
Gerry Matlack said: “I wouldn’t call it any kind of mistake, every link on the first page of Google refers to candlemass when searching imbloc. When dealing with terms this old, there are commonly differing spellings in use.”
Actually, “Imbloc” returns 669 results, while “Imbolc” returns 831,000 results. Obviously a common typo, but NOT a viable alternate spelling.
Fírinne said: “Major mistake.
The holiday is not IMBLOC. It is IMBOLC.
“
The googlefight results clearly show that it is indeed imbolc. It’s not a major mistake though, because no one except you even cared to point it out.
You know, I’m really wishing I could edit my comment right now. Alan, you should do something about that.
I’m not a huge fan of winter or cold weather below say 60 degrees or so. I suggest on the next “Groundhog Day” somebody shoot that furry varmit before it sees its shadow. If its cloudy, shoot it anyways. Could bar-b-q the thing. :P
Awwww, but look at the wikkle baby boo! It’th tho cutie-pie!
Thanks for bringing up the Pagan element in this. Everyone looks at me like I’m crazy when I try to explain that groundhogs day started as a pagan holiday, became a christian holiday & is now a secular holiday. You know, like Christmas or Valentine’s day.
P.S. Who cares about a typo or two?
erm.. So the same word returned different numbers of results?
Well that’s the dyslexia kikcing in… Ima go shoot myself now.
Actually, articles today are saying that we have been experiencing Global Cooling now for about 7 years. It seems like its a cyclical thing (sorry for bad spelling). Now, thats no reason for us to just ruin the environment, but, its funny to look back and see how Fad Science effects so many people who don’t bother to delve into the details.
eating groundhog sounds nasty.