{"id":60183,"date":"2016-02-02T00:09:18","date_gmt":"2016-02-02T08:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.raisingjane.org\/journal\/?p=60183"},"modified":"2016-02-02T00:09:18","modified_gmt":"2016-02-02T08:09:18","slug":"groundhog-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.raisingjane.org\/journal\/60183","title":{"rendered":"Groundhog Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\tWill he, or won\u2019t he?<\/p>\n

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Photo by Cephas via Wikimedia Commons<\/p><\/div>\n

Phil won\u2019t spill (the beans, that is).<\/p>\n

Not until sometime around 8 a.m. Eastern Time.<\/p>\n

Are you hoping for a shadow \u2026 or no?<\/p>\n

In case you\u2019re unsure of what the shadow portends, here\u2019s the superstition:<\/p>\n

If the esteemed Pennsylvania rodent known as Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not<\/em> see his shadow, there will be an early spring.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Susan Sam via Wikimedia Commons<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe celebration of Groundhog Day began with the Germans, Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers,\u201d explains Groundhog.org<\/a>. \u201cThey brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, \u2018For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May…\u2019 The settlers found that groundhogs were plentiful and were the most intelligent and sensible animal to carry on the legend of Candlemas Day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photo by Skeeze via Pixabay<\/p><\/div>\n

Naturally.<\/p>\n

For the latest updates on this year\u2019s shadow sighting, it would be prudent to follow Phil on his Facebook page<\/u><\/a> (insert chuckle here).<\/p>\n

His \u201cprognostication\u201d is scheduled to occur between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. (not sure if that timeframe includes some sort of \u201cpre-game\u201d party, but I think I\u2019ll wait till sunup for the report). Check out the official Groundhog Day Guide<\/u><\/a> to see what else goes on in celebration of the 130th\u00a0annual event.<\/p>\n

Of course, if Phil sees his shadow, don\u2019t despair. USAToday<\/em> reports that, since 1988, the groundhog was “right” 13 times and “wrong” 15 times. In other words, only 13 times did the national average temperature for the remainder of February match what would be expected based on what the groundhog predicted.<\/p>\n

And, anyway, if you\u2019re in dire need of spring sunshine, scurry on over to this groundhog\u2019s burrow, where you\u2019re sure to smile:<\/p>\n