Post by Icarus on Feb 2, 2007 10:10:43 GMT -5
Feb 02, 2007 08:18 AM
Canadian Press
WIARTON, Ont. — Wiarton Willie says the winter that arrived late to most regions of Canada will give way to an early spring.
The country’s most famous weather prognosticating rodent failed to see his shadow when roused from his slumber this morning.
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 — if he doesn’t, it means an early spring.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia's furry weather forecaster, groundhog Shubenacadie Sam, is also predicting winter will be short-lived.
The bewildered rodent emerged from his custom-built enclosure near Halifax this morning and, did not see his shadow.
Willie and Sam are two of dozens of pug-nosed critters across the continent called upon every year to make a mid-winter prognostication.
In the U.S., Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning.
Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, hasn’t seen it 14 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The last time Phil failed to see his shadow was in 1999.
More than 15,000 revellers milled about in a misty snow waiting for the prediction as fireworks exploded overhead and the ``Pennsylvania Polka” and other music blared in the background.
Longtime handler Bill Deeley retired after more than a dozen years and was replaced Friday by John Griffiths and Ben Hughes, both Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle members.
Each Feb. 2, thousands of people descend on Punxsutawney, a town of about 6,100 people about 100 kilometres northeast of Pittsburgh, to celebrate what had essentially been a German superstition.
The Germans believed that if a hibernating animal cast a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.
Canadian Press
WIARTON, Ont. — Wiarton Willie says the winter that arrived late to most regions of Canada will give way to an early spring.
The country’s most famous weather prognosticating rodent failed to see his shadow when roused from his slumber this morning.
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 — if he doesn’t, it means an early spring.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia's furry weather forecaster, groundhog Shubenacadie Sam, is also predicting winter will be short-lived.
The bewildered rodent emerged from his custom-built enclosure near Halifax this morning and, did not see his shadow.
Willie and Sam are two of dozens of pug-nosed critters across the continent called upon every year to make a mid-winter prognostication.
In the U.S., Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning.
Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, hasn’t seen it 14 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The last time Phil failed to see his shadow was in 1999.
More than 15,000 revellers milled about in a misty snow waiting for the prediction as fireworks exploded overhead and the ``Pennsylvania Polka” and other music blared in the background.
Longtime handler Bill Deeley retired after more than a dozen years and was replaced Friday by John Griffiths and Ben Hughes, both Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle members.
Each Feb. 2, thousands of people descend on Punxsutawney, a town of about 6,100 people about 100 kilometres northeast of Pittsburgh, to celebrate what had essentially been a German superstition.
The Germans believed that if a hibernating animal cast a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.