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Community Corner

Westminster Residents Hope Groundhog Doesn't See His Shadow

Wednesday, Feb. 2 is Groundhog's Day.

On Wednesday, Feb. 2, tradition dictates that we watch that elusive groundhog pop his head out of his hole and decide how much more winter we will suffer through. It seems most are crossing fingers that he won't see his shadow and this winter will start to turn to spring sooner than later.

Carroll County Parks and Recreation is offering two events to help teach children about the Groundhog Day tradition, in preparation for the big event on Wednesday.

Today, Bear Branch Nature Center will host “Whistle-Pig Day” from 1-2 p.m. to learn about the tradition of Groundhog Day.  Everyone attending gets a groundhog’s day craft to take home.  There is a $7 fee and the recommended age is six to adult.

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On Monday (don't forget kids don't have school Monday) Piney Run Nature Center is presenting “Groundhogs and Their Friends” from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Attendees will learn about how the groundhog and other mammals spend their winters. The lecture is open to all ages and there is a $5 fee.

With roots going back to the 1800’s, Groundhog Day still remains a very popular tradition todayOfficially, spring begins on March 21st, but we still turn to that hairy hole dweller to tell us how quickly spring will arrive.

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On Feb. 2nd of every year people in the United States and Canada turn to the groundhog to see if an early spring is in the works.  According to legend, if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

The tradition of Groundhog Day originated in 1887 and is said to have been an ancient Germanic tradition in which a badger predicts the weather. When Germanic farmers immigrated to America they brought “Badger Day” with them. However, lack of badgers in this country forced them to substitute with the readily available groundhog.

The most famous groundhog celebration in the U.S. takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. “Punxsutawney Phil” is the official groundhog for the event. During the early morning hours of Feb 2nd, a large crowd gathers at Gobbler’s Knob waiting for Phil to emerge from his underground hibernation. No worries if you can’t be present for the event, you can sign up to receive a text of Punxsutawney Phil’s’ prediction through his website.

How accurate is Phil with his predictions?  According to Phil’s official website, www.punxsutawneyphil.com, he is always correct.  However, the United States National Climatic Data Center believes the accuracy rate is more like 39%.

And according to Stormfax Weather Almanac; 98 times he has seen his shadow, 15 times he has not seen his shadow and 9 times there was no record.

So cross your fingers and hope that we get rain on Feb. 2 so Punxsutawney Phil can't see his shadow.

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