Groundhog Day

Internet image of a groundhog.

 By the time this blog posts, we should know if either or both Phil and Jimmy are predicting an early spring or a long winter.

 Phil is from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania while Jimmy calls Sun Prairie, Wisconsin home.  Jimmy is our local groundhog so most folks in these parts turn to him once a year to see when spring will arrive.

 If Jimmy sees his shadow, that means six more weeks of winter; if no shadow is seen then spring will come soon (usually in March around these parts).

In 2015, Jimmy the Groundhog made bigger news than his usual forecast when he took a bite of the mayor's ear while he was supposed to whisper the prediction to his honor.  The good news was publicity for Sun Prairie, the obvious downside was bite sustained by the mayor.  Since then the sunrise ceremony has been bite-free.

Groundhogs and red skies are just two bits of folklore used to predict weather.  If you don't recall, "red skies in the morning, sailors take warning; red skies at night, sailor's delight."

Other folklore predicts other things, like your love of a certain dairy product.  You'll have to wait less or more depending on your local groundhog but if you rub a dandelion under your chin and it turns yellow, you like butter.

 

Today could also mean you're caught in an endless loop repeating the same day over and over until you get it right.  Perhaps the groundhogs have something to do with that, too.