by Kim Doner
Thanks to Ms. Ruth Hanchett for this story’s inspiration.
Friday, February 2, is Groundhog Day, woohoo! In honor of this
wonderful tradition, I’ve been inspired to write an article perfectly suited to … groundhogs, with a nod to the movie Groundhog Day. (Surprise!)
Many of us know this famous romantic comedy, wherein Bill Murray is time-warped through multiple Groundhog Days to improve himself as a suitor and finally win Andie McDowell’s heart. Bottom line: With enough chances, anyone can get it right. Live every day as Groundhog Day! Why not?
Actually, Groundhog Day originated in ancient Rome. Romans depended on
hibernating animals such as hedgehogs to predict when weather would warm. The tradition spread through Europe — much like Roman roads — and became a pagan celebration. Because it fell on a cross-quarter day between solstice and equinox, the date fit into hopeful predictions for how crops would fare.
The Celts adopted the superstition, and in their flexible fashion, began to use badgers as their prognosticating hibernator when hedgehogs weren’t available. Christianity spread through European tribes, and like many other religious holidays, the event was absorbed — just renamed Candlemas by those of German descent. Then as America began settlement, those very Germans — now the Pennsylvania Dutch — heralded the end of winter that way.
But (insert “Uh-oh” here) there were no hedgehogs hanging around Pennsylvania. What to do?
Fortunately, groundhogs had been discovered by then, and they made great hibernating critter substitutes; thus the honor was passed on. Farmers looked to this furry fellow to see — or not see — his shadow on February 2, thus predicting either another six weeks of winter or that spring had sprung.
Not all states depend on a groundhog weatherman; Oregon eschews such and prefers a hedgehog named FuFu in honor of the past European icons used. The hedgies boast better accuracy — 53 percent compared to 23 percent from Team Groundhog. Texans turn to Bob the Armadillo, and North Carolinians choose Pisgah Penny, a squirrel who also predicts the Super Bowl results. (My money is on the squirrel. Quite the twofer).
Here We Go Again
Friday, February 2, is Groundhog Day, woohoo! In honor of this wonderful tradition, I’ve been inspired to write an article perfectly suited to … groundhogs, with a nod to the movie Groundhog Day. (Surprise!)
Groundhogs are rodents and members of the squirrel branch. They are good-sized, measuring as much as two feet in length and 14 pounds in weight (probably peaking there right before hibernation). Because groundhogs are big diggers and chewers, they are considered “ecosystem engineers” — they modify their environments, thus providing other species opportunities to thrive by maintaining healthy soil. Nature is always connected, one system leading to another, including groundhogs and their lifestyles.
There are many other names for groundhogs — in some areas, they are called marmots. Another name is “whistle pig” because of the sound they make to alert their colonies when danger nears.
Of course, we all know one more nom de num-num: “How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” Yep, these guys are also called woodchucks, although how much wood they can chuck remains a mystery. The term originated through “wuchak,” meaning “digger” in Algonquian.
As far as personalities, groundhogs are quite intelligent; they communicate, cooperate, and create social networks and are good parents. And one more nugget of fun stuff to know: A baby woodchuck is called a chuckling, which — IMHO — advances their cute factor to infinity.
Here in the United States, groundhogs can be found in the lowlands from Alaska to Alabama and from Oregon to West Virginia. They are fairly vegetarian, making exceptions for large insects, snails, and eggs. Farmers struggle with these guys because groundhogs are able diggers and easily burrow their way under fences to wreak havoc on prized gardens.
There’s a hysterical video circling the web about a guy whose vegetable garden was steadily disappearing, his produce being ruined bite by bite — https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=EkOmaLlXiVs. A camera revealed a groundhog as the culprit. Several times a day, it would snag a choice vegetable, seat itself before the lens, and munch away in something akin to performance art, eyeballing the audience while enthusiastically smacking and chewing. As the scenes unfold (and the garden shrinks), the owner becomes attached to “his” groundhog.
Then it appeared with a groundhogette.
Fast-forward to a happy ending: The pair is allowed to fatten up before hibernating, and Our Hero plants TWO gardens in the future — one for him and his family
and the other for his furred and feathered neighbors.
Awwwww….
Photo by Kathy Locker.
And Don’t Forget
Friday, February 2, is Groundhog Day, woohoo! In honor of this wonderful tradition, I’ve been inspired to write an article perfectly suited to … groundhogs, with a nod to the movie Groundhog Day. (Surprise!)
Let’s revisit the Pennsylvania Dutch (synonymous with Pennsylvania German), circa 1880s. A movement begins for further celebrating Groundhog Day. To extend the event, Elks Lodge members planned a groundhog hunt, then an ensuing picnic of cooked groundhog and groundhog punch. The effort didn’t stick. (Maybe because the punch was a broth of groundhog meat, but what do I know?) Nevertheless, they persevered, finally forming an organization of social clubs to preserve their language and culture.
Beginning in the 1930s and dubbed Groundhog Lodges, the meetings — called “versammlinges” (with a strictly male membership) — don’t sound quite as serious as one would guess. Existing photos reveal a decorated eight-foot groundhog mannequin being crowned, with allegiance pledged by about 400 members. The rest of the evening was spent toasting their lodge and groundhog, eating, singing, performing, joking, and fining anyone who spoke English.
I daresay beer was involved.
In this day, the most famous Groundhog Day ceremony happens in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where the current Punxsutawney Phil (said to be 133 years old) is consulted for predictions at Gobbler’s Knob. Members of the Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle — gentlemen in formal suits and top hats — gather at the podium to hoist Phil (with great care and respect) for his proclamation.
Since the release of the Groundhog Day movie in 1993, the festivities have grown to an all-night party on February 1, with fireworks, dancing, and more. Events include the groundhog banquet, the groundhog ball (always a sellout), and of course the dawn reckoning of Phil.
If I’m starting to sound like a travel agent, I must admit, researching this critter and a community having that much fun has started to sound pretty good for a midwinter holiday.
One More Time
Friday, February 2, is Groundhog Day, woohoo! In honor of this wonderful tradition, I’ve written an article perfectly suited to … groundhogs, with a nod to the movie Groundhog Day.
To no surprise.
