Groundhog's Day has never carried quite the same éclat as other holidays - indeed there are plenty out there who don't even consider it to be one, perhaps because so little fuss is generally made about it outside of Pennsylvania. To be fair, it isn't truly classified as a holiday, yet I've always viewed it as one, and adore the fact that we, rather preciously, employ a furry little critter to help determine (perhaps not always accurately) if we're in for an early spring or another six weeks of winter.
Some people dismiss Groundhog's Day because of it's seemingly silly premise, but if you think about it, there's really nothing stranger about the idea of a rodent being able to predict the weather than there is of a (huge!) rabbit delivering candy to children at Easter. No matter how seriously you take Punxsutawney Phil's metrological abilities, I think we can all agree that this time of the year - as we continue to slog through the tail end of winter, with all it's ice, snow, and dingy slush, is one that calls for all the fun and celebrate we can drum up.
I'd venture to say that many of us haven't though too much about Groundhog's Day since we were in school, but I've always made a point of celebrating it in some small way or another (yes, very much including watching Bill Murray's classic 90s film of the same name on it), especially since it is an event that's steeped in history, stretching back to the 18th or 19th century Pennsylvania, depending on your source (with earlier roots still in the ancient European tradition and lore of using a badger or a bear to help determine springtime weather).
Groundhog's Day will likely never rise to the status of a statutory holiday, or even one such as Valentine's or St. Patrick's Day, that we observe far and wide with great gusto, but it is a fun way to usher in February, smiling all the while over the idea that a cute little animal might be able to spare us from another month and a half of winter's icy wrath.
Up here in Canada, the cold season usually lasts until about April (or longer, depending on what part of the country you live in), and I remember thinking as a child that it might be more fitting if the groundhog made his prediction around the middle of March, instead of the start of February! No matter though, it's still sweet, and completely fun, to let February 2nd be the day from which onwards we may - or may not - be spared more of winter's notorious fury.
Whether you put stock in Phil's prediction or not, there's no denying that he's one mighty adorable critter and that it's fun to have a little light hearted celebration at the beginning of second month of the year. I love Groundhog's Day (so much so that a few months back I started a Pinterest board devoted just to it called Gearing up for Groundhog Day) and hope you'll join me today in the merriment and fun of this endearingly charming mid-winter tradition.
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Happy Groundhog's Day, everyone - here's to hoping that the darling little critter doesn't see his shadow!
