Happy Groundhog Day!

This is a book I made for each of my kids for groundhog day one year.

“Forty days after Christmas,
February 2,
Lies the day of the groundhog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The groundhog, or woodchuck, or whistlepig, is a hole-digging mammal in the eastern parts of North America. They are generous animals; all sorts of creatures survive because of the shelter supplied by woodchuck holes.

 

 

February 2 was also called Candlemas.

Candlemas was a day for blessing all of the candles used in the church that year. It was also a day for purification, as in Mary’s journey to the temple 40 days after Jesus was born, to offer up a gift.

 

An ancient proverb:
‘If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas be cloud and snow
Wintertime will finally go.’

So it happened in the 1800’s, because the groundhog is often seen looking around outside her burrow,
she became the prognosticator from the proverb.

 

 

 

If she comes out of her burrow and casts no shadow on the ground,
it means that winter is fading fast and spring warmth is on its way.

 

 

 

If she comes out of her burrow and see’s her shadow, it means winter’s cold will continue on and on.

 

 

 

So, on groundhog day this year,
you can clean out the burrow you call home, as an act of purification, before its too warm outside to care.
You could offer a gift, too; an apple or nuts to the groundhog.
You can plan your garden (what else can you think of?)

 

 

 

 

 
I like to make a mound of chocolate cake and frost it with chocolate, like a groundhog burrow,
and then….

check
the ten day forecast.”

 

 

The end