Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated annually in the United States and parts of Canada on February 2. Folklore dictates that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on the 2nd and sees its shadow, winter will continue for another six weeks. If the groundhog fails to see his shadow, there will only be six more weeks until spring. Punxsutawney Phil, resident of Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is considered by many to be the one true prognosticating groundhog.Groundhog.org: The Official Site of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

On Groundhog Day 2009, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow and saw his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter in the U.S.KSPR News (Springfield, MO): Groundhog Sees His Shadow (February 2, 2009)

Punxsutwaney Phil saw his shadow in Gobbler's Knob on February 2, 2009, signaling another six weeks of winter weather ahead. But not all prognosticating groundhogs agreed with Phil's prediction— New York City's Charles G. Hogg, or "Chuck" the groundhog, did not see his shadow, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.Lebanon Daily News: NY's Chuck to Punxsutawney Phil: Hogwash! (February 2, 2009)

Perhaps owing to the fact that rodent is not a typical component of American cuisine, Groundhog Day does not offer a wide range of traditional food. Nevertheless, there are culinary approaches to the eccentric holiday. One strategy mentioned on several cooking sites is to make sausage-based meals, which are literally "ground hog." Other approaches include creating a Mud Pie, in recognition of Punxsutawney Phil's underground residence, and chocolate desserts that depict groundhogs.

Groundhog Day is not the only holiday on which the day's weather predicted the weather to come. On July 15, St. Swithun's Day, there was an old English saying that went:

• "St Swithun's Day, if thou dost rain,
• For forty days, it will remain:
• St Swithun's Day, if thou be fair,
• For forty days 'twill rain nae mair."Wilson's Almanac: Umbrella Days

On June 8, the feast of St. Medard, there were a number of rhymes about the weather, including one that said:

• "If on the eighth of June it rain,
• It foretells a wet harvest, men sain."Wilson's Almanac: Umbrella Days