Six more weeks of winter!
Yes indeed. Today, on Gobbler´s Knob, Punxsutwaney Phil has announced that he does see his shadow. Six more weeks of winter are ahead in...? Is it just a prognosis for Pennsylvania, for the USA...it certainly can not be for the entire world?
Most of you have probably seen the movie with Bill Murray and are familiar with the procedures. Apparently, one chosen guy knocks on his door, he comes out, greets his guests, gets placed on top of an old oak stump and says something -in what can only be presumed to be goundhoggish - and finally, the important guy translates and we have our prediction. (Reminds me a little of priests, in the role of a medium between us and God!)
On a different note, the oldest person in Iceland turned 108 today. Congratulations. I wonder what predictions she could make about the future. Maybe something on the lines of "It is gonna be cold in Iceland for almost the entire year with short interruptions of accidental sunshine!"
3 Comments:
I've always wondered how big of an area that groundhog covered too. It was warm here in NC on GHog's day, but cold today.
Guess it's the third and not the second, so I'm out of Bill Murray's loop. Seen The Life Aquatic? I think he was better in that one.
Nice little finisher too.
Here's my attempt at a humerous explanation of my country's bizarre traditions of February 2nd. All references to things like the Inner Circle, the proceedings, etc... are actually true, and part of the traditions and "great mysteries" surrounding Phil, according the official website (www.groundhog.org):
Good old Prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil, Marmota Monax Meteorologist, 119 years old and going strong (he drinks a magic "groundhog punch" at the Groundhog Picnic every year which gives him 7 more years of life).
So intelligent and sensible is this particular animal, that if he sees his own shadow on Candlemas day, he knows there will be 6 more weeks of winter. He remembers the old wisdom:
For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until the May.
Phil awaits his yearly obligation in his oak chamber, where he sleeps, or perhaps meditates (we will never truly understand Phil). Phil's staff (the Inner Circle), come to his oaken chamber home on Gobbler's Knob on Candlemas Day. The Inner Circle President knocks on Phil's door with the century-old cane, in order to wake him up. Phil's staff Handlers help him rouse from his sleep, at which time he is placed upon a red carpet which lay atop his oaken domicile. It is this moment which is critical. The staff President, the only living soul who understands Phil's "groundhogese", looks directly into Phil's eyes, communicates with the King of Groundhogs, then translates and announces the results to the crowd.
And that, my friends, is Groundhog's Day, in a nutshell.
I DO like your weather forcast!!
Mommy
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