Waiting with (Frosty) Bated Breath for Groundhog Day
With snow flurries and freezing temps expected through next week in Shelby Township and Utica, the prospect of Punxsutawney Phil, or Michigan's own Woody, predicting six more weeks of winter on Feb. 2 is especially daunting.
Groundhog Day is on Saturday, Feb. 2 this year, and the recent Arctic temperatures are giving the day a bit more resonance than usual. According to the myth, if a groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if he does not, spring is right around the corner. Last year, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter while Woody, Michigan's Official Groundhog, called for an early spring. Groundhog Day and other similar legends are based on the beliefs of Europeans, but the true origins of the holiday are lost in time. The day originated from the Germans, Scots and early Christian Europeans. It is celebrated every year on Feb. 2. On this day, a groundhog comes out of its burrow and checks for his …
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