Groundhog Day cancelled!

[macwilkin]

please explain all this groundhog, woodchuck, shadow, winter spring thing?

It's origins are in Scotland and the Pennsylvania Germans, who introduced the custom of a badger or groundhog being the prognosticator of weather:

If Candlemass day be dry and fair,
The half o' winter's to come and mair;
If Candlemass day be wet and foul,
The half o' winter's gave at Yule.'


-- http://www.thebookofdays.com/months/feb/2.htm

T.