A GROUNDHOG'S DAY

Today, February 2, is Groundhog Day. If a groundhog sees its shadow today, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, Spring will be near. Therefore, the Day is of both great personal as well as public interest. You see, I am a groundhog, as today is my birthday.

Exactly what is a groundhog? Frankly, it is a rodent, and a member of the marmot group. It also has been known over time as a woodchuck, whistle-pig and land beaver. It lives in burrows. An average groundhog excavates about 700 pounds of earth per burrow and may have several burrows. It hibernates in winter, and breeds in February--perhaps in "tunnels of love". It is a vegetarian, and may well visit your vegetable garden.

Of all the native animals in North America, the groundhog is the only one to have its own day. In 1841, a Pennsylvania storekeeper wrote in his diary "Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back in for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather will be moderate." An 1871 commentary on February 2 similarly stated: "On that day the groundhog comes annually out of his hole, after a long winter nap, to look for his shadow. If he perceives it, he retires again to his burrow, which he does not leave for six weeks--weeks necessarily of stormy weather. But if he does not see his shadow, he stays out of his hole till he can, and the weather is sure to become mild and pleasant."

Perhaps the most famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil, who has attained rock star status as forecaster to the nation on February 2 every year. However, the truth of the matter is that many towns in the Unites States have their own groundhogs making their own forecasts based on whether shadows are seen there. So, there may well be a variety of predictions. Overall, it seems that groundhog forecasts are correct only about 40% of the time.

In a town in Spain, annually in January, there is a day when townspeople celebrate by throwing dead rats at each other. No doubt tomatoes are out of season. At any rate, we should be happy that we don't have to throw groundhogs at each other every February 2.

Groundhog Day is a de facto holiday in the United States. I urge the President to bypass Congress and issue an executive order establishing Groundhog Day as a national holiday. Of course, that would mean that schools and banks would close and there would be no mail delivery, so that full appreciation could be given to the honored rodent. Because different groundhogs in different locations could give different forecasts, perhaps there should be federal regulation of groundhogs to facilitate uniform forecasting.

What does all of this have to do with water. Well, six more weeks of winter will mean six more weeks of snow, ice and freezing rain--along with frigid cold!

I just stepped outside. I saw my shadow, which means six more weeks of winter. Happy Holiday!