We are all about celebrating the odd and whimsical in our house.
You have to admit that Groundhog day is um, really kind of odd. Grown men in tuxes pretending their small pet rodent named Phil can not only talk- but predict future weather- in ryhme?
And thousands of people descend on the town of Punxsutawney PA each year to stand out in the cold and dark, (at a place in town called Gobbler' s Knob!) waiting for this to happen?!
I am so on board with that!
So each year we celebrate Groundhog day, we get up, we make our own predictions, and we wait for the half hour to turn on the tv for the weather. This year Punxatawney Phil predicted an early spring! Here is what he "said" :

Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/07 at 7:28 a.m. at Gobbler's Knob:

El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.

Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.

On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?

On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way.

So there you have it! The rodent says early spring!

We talked about Candlemas day and the traditions that started Groundhog day. We talked about how we're half way between Winter and Spring, and we kept a candle burning all day. It's been so cold lately- coming after such mild weather- that it doesn't feel like spring is just around the corner.
But Phil says so, and we trust the mystic groundhog!

Labels: Groundhog Day Candlemas Celebrations