According to American folklore, if it cloudy when Chuck emerges from his burrow on Saturday, then spring will come early. But if it is a bright sunny day, Chuck will supposedly get spooked by his shadow, retreat back into his burrow, and the NYC winter will drag on for six more weeks. At this rate, with our polar vortexes and sub-zero temperatures, I think all of us (including Mr. Wolf here) would like to have a stern word with SI Chuck!
Anyone disinclined to schlep all the way out to Staten Island in the wee hours of a cold Saturday morning can always fire up Netflix and watch “Groundhog Day”, the 1993 film starring Bill Murray that features the largest Groundhog Day celebrations in the US, held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (with a groundhog named Phil).
While the concept of Groundhog Day might seem silly, it has its beginnings in ancient European weather lore. Having said that, in 18th and 19th Century Europe, it was actually a badger or bear that predicted the climatic conditions. When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s they brought their traditions with them, but adopted the groundhog as their winter weather vane. In fact, in southern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Day celebrations are taken so seriously that only the local German dialect is spoken all day, and those who speak English have to pay a fine!
