Page 45 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - Febrary/March 2020 Edition

Legend & Folklore Behind Groundhog Day 45

The History, Legend and deep layers of snow and ice.
There is some truth to the shadow aspect
Folklore Behind of the legend. Sunny days in winter are generally
associated with colder, drier arctic air and
Groundhog Day cloudy days with milder, moist maritime air.

Given the tendency for weather conditions to
persist for several days before changing, the
weather on any February 2 may continue for a
By Rob McConnell
few days, but not necessarily any longer. Since
seasons tend to follow a pattern, 6 more weeks
of winter, rather than an early spring, is a
Several years ago as the executive producer of
statistically better option in Canada.
talk programming for NewsTalk 610 CKTB in
St. Catharines, Ontario, I had the pleasure of
going to Wiarton, Ontario to produce the Furry Prognosticators of Groundhog
Day
Groundhog Day Morning Show which was
hosted by Tim Denis and Laurie Walsh.
Upon arriving in Wiarton the night Groundhog Day has become a means of
before the big day, I went right to work setting inserting a little fun - and hope for spring - into
up the broadcast equipment for the next long, cold Canadian winters. The North
morning’s live broadcast, making sure that American tradition of watching for a groundhog
everything worked perfectly and that all the to emerge from its burrow to make a prediction
guests were ready and lined up as well as began with German settlers in Punxsutawney,
making certain that all the prep work and Pa, in 1887. That tradition has grown into a
research into Groundhog Day was ready for Tim week-long festival starring Punxsutawney Phil.
and Laurie. In Canada, Wiarton Willie is the primary
Unlike in the movie “Groundhog Day,” folklore behind Groundhog Day? groundhog predictor. He is an albino groundhog
the clock radio in the motel room that Tim and I As you most probably know, Groundhog who lives in Wiarton, Ont (merged as South
shared on our overnight adventure to “The Land Day is February 2, and is celebrated in Canada Bruce Peninsula in 1999), near Georgian Bay.
of the Albino Groundhog” did not wake us with and the US. According to legend, the Groundhog He has been making his predictions since 1956;
at 4:30 in the morning with Sonny and Cher emerges from its burrow at noon on that day to the role of Willie has been played by several
singing “I Got You Babe,” but a nerve wracking look for its shadow. If it is a sunny day and the groundhogs over the years. Like Punxsutawney
screeching / buzzing noise. I think my fingernail groundhog sees its shadow, according to Phil, Wiarton Willie does not live in a burrow in
imprints are probably still in the ceiling of that folklore it becomes frightened and returns to its the wild; he lives in a special house across from
motel room! hole to sleep, and winter continues for 6 more Bluewater Park, away from predators.
Tim and I made our way down to the weeks. If it does not see its shadow, it remains It is unlikely that Willie would appear
civic centre where we met up with Laurie and outside because the worst of winter is over and above ground on his own until early to mid-
the show went live to air right on 5:30 a.m. The warmer weather is on its way. March, 6-8 weeks after February 2. He is
civic centre, where Tim and Laurie were awakened from hibernation by the town's
broadcasting from was close to the staging area The Origins of Groundhog Day "Shadow Cabinet" to make his prediction.
that had been prepared for the star of the show, Wiarton Willie is not alone in his role as weather
“Wiarton Willie.” The origins of Groundhog Day lie in medieval forecaster; he is joined by groundhogs across the
TV and Radio Crews from throughout Europe, where the day was known as Candlemas country, including Shubenacadie Sam (Nova
Ontario were setting up their equipment in Day, a Christian festival named for the custom Scotia), Brandon Bob (Manitoba) and Balzac
anticipation of that all-important breaking news of lighting candles on that day. There were Billy (Alberta).
event! sayings that carried the observations of the time
Then it happened. After the handlers of of year in general. Meteorological Records
Wiarton Willie woke the sleeping albino In Scotland, conventional wisdom said,
groundhog up, the Mayor listened intently as "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear/There'll Groundhog Day organizers maintain that the
Willie whispered the prediction in his ear. The be twa [two] winters in the year." In England, rodents' forecasts are accurate 75-90% of the
Mayor then told all those present what they had the saying was somewhat more elaborate: "If time. However, meteorological records prove
been waiting for… Willie’s prediction. Candlemas be fair and bright/Come, Winter, that the groundhogs' success rate is quite low. A
That was more than ten years ago, and have another flight. If Candlemas brings clouds study of weather data over several decades for
even with the advances in modern technology, and rain, Go Winter, and come not again." In 13 cities across Canada reveals there was an
even with smartphones and Facebook, people addition to being attentive to the changing equal number of cloudy and sunny days on
still flock to Wiarton, Ontario and the other seasons, Europeans had a legend whereby February 2. During that period, the groundhogs'
locations across Canada and the US to watch hedgehogs predicted the beginning of spring by predictions were correct only 37% of the time;
grown men, dressed in unusual clothing, bend the state of the weather on Candlemas Day. ie, winters continued cold for several weeks
their ear to hear, from a Groundhog, if there will When European settlers came to North America, following the appearance of sharp shadows on
be an early spring or six more weeks of winter. they brought the February 2 legend with them. February 2, or were much milder than usual
I must be missing something here. If the There being no hedgehogs, they transferred the when that day was too cloudy for a shadow to be
entire February 2 event is based on a groundhog predictive role to groundhogs. seen. However, for nearly two-thirds of the years
seeing his shadow, what would be the difference Early settlers hoped for signs of an early the groundhogs' forecasts turned out to be
if humans looked down and say their shadows spring so they could begin planting and shorten wrong: either they were contrary to what they
on February 2? Maybe I should start a new the time to harvest, especially with winter should have been, or winter dragged on for its
February 2 tradition! I will run outside next year provisions dwindling. What settlers did not normal duration. Given that in this case 33%
on the morning of February 2, 2021, and if I see realize was that the groundhog sleeps later than accuracy can occur by chance, a score of 37% is
my shadow I will let the world know that there the European hedgehog and is less likely to stir not significant.
are six more weeks of Winter, and if I do not see even on warm winter days. By February 2, the So don’t forget to mark February 2 2021
my shadow, we will all rejoice at an early spring. worst of winter's weather is usually over in on your calendars, the day when “South Coast
By George, I will even broadcast it live on radio western Europe, but Canadian winters are Rob” will make his debut as a Prognosticator of
and on TV! generally longer, with much more cold and snow Groundhog Day.
I will call myself, “South Coast Rob,” yet to come. In early February, the openings to For The ‘X’ Zone Radio & TV Show and
and NO I will not wear a Groundhog costume! groundhog burrows are usually buried under The ‘X’ Chronicles Newspaper, I am Rob
So, what is the history, legend and McConnell.