Phil & Willy

Groundhog, woodchuck: what’s in a name? Our stocky rodent friends—Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willy—predicted an early spring.

That’s exciting [great] news for those of us living in chilly northern regions. And makes for an interesting [frivolous] post … because I can’t for the life of me recall the history of why we “celebrate” Groundhog’s Day. Other than it’s kinda fun and people do seem to get into it (just watch the vids of folks hanging around to see what their fave fuzzy critter is going to forecast courtesy of his shadow).

So, what is the history …? It stems from a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition brought from German-speaking regions (where the badger was the forecasting creature). If a groundhog surfaces from its burrow on this particular day—conceivably because February 2nd is halfway between winter solstice and spring equinox—and sees its shadow, it’ll return to its snug little home. Winter will continue for another six weeks. If it doesn’t see its shadow, spring will arrive early.

So, if a groundhog is a woodchuck, and Mother Goose provided this little tongue-twister …

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck / If a woodchuck could chuck wood? / As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck / If a woodchuck could chuck wood.

 … then the groundhog equivalent would have to be …

How much ground could a groundhog hog / If a groundhog could hog ground? / As much ground as a groundhog could hog / If a groundhog could hog ground.

  A frivolous post indeed but perhaps a tad more fun than one about more [promo] merch or the merits of making a homemade salad as opposed to buying a premade one (yeah, those were tumbling about in the quasi-hibernating gray matter today).  

Have an amazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing week!