Happy Ground Hog Day!

It's cold.  It's snowy.  It's winter in the US.   By this time of year Americans living in the Northern part of the country, tired of shoveling snow and driving on icy roads, are asking,  "How much longer will this last?"  

Tomorrow they will have an answer.   Because tomorrow, February 2 is Ground Hog Day.  Folk lore says that on this day ground hogs, furry brown rodents that hibernate in the winter, will poke their heads out of their holes and decide if there will be more winter or an early spring.  If they see their shadow, they will run back into their hole and continue sleeping for 6 more weeks.  This means 6 more weeks of winter.  On the other hand, no shadow means an early spring.  

One ground hog in Pennsylvania has become the most famous ground hog of all for his weather predictions.  His name is Punxsutawney Phil.  Every year on February 2 thousands of people and TV crews come to the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to see Phil.  The celebration begins before sunrise with music, fun and fireworks at a park called Gobbler's Knob.  At sunrise, Phil's human handlers, dressed in tuxedos and top hats bring the ground hog out of his hole and interpret his weather prediction for the anxious crowd.  

Today we only need to turn on our TVs or computers to get an accurate weather forecast but there was a time when people used clues in nature for this information.  This tradition has now become a fun celebration. Read more about this unique American holiday at http://www.groundhog.org/  or watch a video and live stream of the celebration at  http://www.visitpa.com/groundhog-day-live-stream.