By Lilcrawford
Ontario,
Canada 
In North America folklore has it that if a groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day he’ll flee to his burrow, heralding six more weeks of winter, and if he doesn’t, it means spring’s around the corner. February 2 is Ground Hog Day and Wiarton Willie, Ontario's official spring predictor did not see his shadow which means an early spring for us!!!! Yay.
Just wondering if this is followed in across the pond as well and if so, what the result was.
2 Feb, 2012
Answers
That's strange, Lil, - I've just read that according to some groundhog or other, (Punxsutawney Phil, I think) there ARE going to be 6 more weeks of winter! How many of these argumentative groundhogs are there?
3 Feb, 2012
In my personal opinion, it is a rodent and not a meteorologist. But, according to 'Phil' it will be another 6 weeks of winter. Frankly, I can't put much faith in a rat-like mammal. However, it would give me another few weeks of garden planning!
3 Feb, 2012
Phil is the American one Gattina.
I realize it's not scientific, just folk lore, but I was happy to see that my neck of the woods will be having an early spring :)
Excuse me now as I have to go and rub my rabbits foot for good luck :)
3 Feb, 2012
I hope your rabbit doesn't mind!
3 Feb, 2012
What good fun! I do hope that spring comes sooner than winter! Last year seemed to be some sort of perpetual spring as summer, autumn and winter had been within a narrow temperature band.
3 Feb, 2012
I`m sure I read this post yesterday.
3 Feb, 2012
Did you know that Groundhog Day does not originate in north America? The tradition was introduced by German immigrants when they arrived. There is a church festival about this time of year, sorry I forget which, and if a HEDGEHOG comes out of hibernation and sees it's shadow then there will be another six weeks of winter.
3 Feb, 2012
The post was put up yesterday, Fidget. The date is just below the picture.
3 Feb, 2012
Agree with you Bulba but i thought it was a Devon legend rather than Germanic.
3 Feb, 2012
Well the church festival is Candlemas and if you want a good long giggle about groundhog day copy and paste this link into your web browser
http://www.mythphile.com/2011/02/groundhog-day-mythology/
So German, Roman, Amerindian? Who knows!
3 Feb, 2012
Wonderful MG!l wouldn't nave missed it.
3 Feb, 2012
What a fascinating site, MG, thank you for that!
3 Feb, 2012
I was astounded - never realised all the significance.
3 Feb, 2012
your better watching the film with bill murray . its very good . theres know smoke without fire .
3 Feb, 2012
I saw my shadow and fled to my burrow - brrrrrrrr - too cold to be out!!!!
3 Feb, 2012
Agree Cammomile!
3 Feb, 2012
February 2nd is my mother's birthday. Perhaps we'd do better to ring her up and ask her how long winter will last?
3 Feb, 2012
Good idea Andrew!
3 Feb, 2012
That was an interesting read MG. Thanks for sharing.
Lol at the rest of you :)
3 Feb, 2012
Its just an old wives tale I'm afraid . there probably more noticeable with a dark shadow next to them and as there on lots of predators dinner list this may be why they may avoid these times and being dinner makes them skittish anyway . i do hope you have a nice spring anyway lol .
2 Feb, 2012