Groundhog Day

[barkley]

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, shiver-phil saw his shadow.

 

[sam_gordon]

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, shiver-phil saw his shadow.

Basically the middle of March. That's typically been *MY* "end of winter" goal.

BUT, if he didn't see his shadow, "spring is just around the corner". What the heck does that mean?

 

[lynxstch]

Basically the middle of March. That's typically been *MY* "end of winter" goal.

BUT, if he didn't see his shadow, "spring is just around the corner". What the heck does that mean?

Exactly. Whether or not he sees it, Winter is still winter until it's officially Spring. I never got that either.

 

[BrianL]

Exactly. Whether or not he sees it, Winter is still winter until it's officially Spring. I never got that either.

It goes back to really old German traditions/superstitions about when animals emerge from their hibernating den as a sign of spring, and the weather of that day being a portent of future weather. Like if the animal comes out and goes right back in, winter will last a while longer, but if it comes out and stays active, then spring is here. It's like the hibernating animal version of the snooze button. Interestingly, the shadow was more likely to appear on a sunny day, so that was the signal that there would be more winter.

 

[sam_gordon]

It goes back to really old German traditions/superstitions about when animals emerge from their hibernating den as a sign of spring, and the weather of that day being a portent of future weather. Like if the animal comes out and goes right back in, winter will last a while longer, but if it comes out and stays active, then spring is here. It's like the hibernating animal version of the snooze button. Interestingly, the shadow was more likely to appear on a sunny day, so that was the signal that there would be more winter.

Right. But the "shadow" means six more weeks of winter. That's fairly specific. The "non shadow" means spring is just around the corner. Can't those both mean the same thing? I mean when you're talking generally 4-5 months of "winter" (not talking meteorologically), doesn't "six weeks" = "just around the corner"?

I've thought for a long time now that the middle of March (also timed to the basketball conference tournaments/1st week of National Tournament) is pretty much the end of winter (at least in my area).

 

[Dan Murphy]

I've thought for a long time now that the middle of March (also timed to the basketball conference tournaments/1st week of National Tournament) is pretty much the end of winter (at least in my area).

That's because you have......

 

[disneychrista]

So if it is sunny (you need the sun to make the shadow) more winter. If it’s cloudy (no shadow) early spring???

My calendar says just over 6 weeks of winter every year, regardless.

 

[sam_gordon]

That's because you have......

It is an easy thing to base it on.

BUT, I'd be just fine if UK didn't make it to another NCAA tournament in my life.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Yup our local (puppet) groundhog says 6 more weeks of winter....

 

[Mysterian]

Basically the middle of March. That's typically been *MY* "end of winter" goal.

BUT, if he didn't see his shadow, "spring is just around the corner". What the heck does that mean?

You mean seasonal forecasts predicted by groundhogs is not an exact science?

 

[sam_gordon]

You mean seasonal forecasts predicted by groundhogs is not an exact science?

It is if he sees his shadow "Six more weeks of winter!".

 

[Dan Murphy]

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/fred-la-marmotte-dead-groundhog-day-quebec

Quebec's beloved Fred la Marmotte dies on Groundhog Day​

A child attending the event was called in as an emergency replacement and predicted winter will continue.

 

[Mysterian]

 

[PollyannaMom]

Does anyone else know this old poem? - It amounts to the same as whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not (he's just cuter!)

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight;
If Candlemas Day be wind and rain,
Winter has gone and will not come again.


Here's a different (Scottish) version (link):

If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,
Half the winter's to come and mair.
If Candlemas Day be wet and foul,
Half o' winter's gane at Yule.


And another (I'm going down the rabbit hole now) that I found (here):

If Candlemas be mild and gay,
Go saddle your horses and buy them hay;
But if Candlemas be stormy and black,
It carries the winter away on its back.

 

[_19disnA]

Always seemed like one of those urban legends (shadow/no shadow......), harmless but useless. Probably about as reliable as reading your horoscope...........LOL.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Always seemed like one of those urban legends (shadow/no shadow......), harmless but useless. Probably about as reliable as reading your horoscope...........LOL.

Especially when our groundhog is a puppet.

 

[loves to dive]

I live in Georgia. We have 1 week of winter, a week of spring, a week of really bad winter, a week of spring throughout Jan. and Feb. Then we have a few weeks of maybe spring, maybe early summer. Then we have levels of summer and 1 week of thinking about maybe fall. Rinse and repeat. This week alone we are having a few days in the 50s, a day in the 40s, then a 50s day then onto 60s. That groundhog would be really confused here.

 

[slo]

Me…..when I heard the groundhog saw it’s shadow

 

[nw6675]