Yup, it’s groundhog’s day, where an obscure rodent in Pennsylvania will determine our weather for the next six weeks. Or so the superstition goes.
For those with a historical trivia bent, the tradition comes to us from Germany. The ancient Catholic holy day of Candlemas, usually celebrated on the 2nd, was brought across the Atlantic by german settlers. They became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, and they called the day “Badger Day” (Dachstag), where if a badger emerging found it to be a sunny day thereby casting a shadow, it foreboded the prolonging of winter by four more weeks.
Although traditionally, the badger was the harbinger of weather, here in the States, a groundhog has replaced the badger. It kind of makes sense, seeing as the closest German equivalent to our American groundhog is the eurasian marmot, a relative of the groundhog. In german they are called grun′daks or ground badgers. The annual ritual in western Pennsylvania dates back to 1887.
So, if Punxsutawny Phil sees his shadow be prepared for 6 more weeks of winter. Or not.
Anyway, I’ve prepared the breakfast of my People for y’all. Enjoy the full Irish. And don’t ask why there are beans in the breakfast, despite having a close connection to Ireland I don’t know, it just is.