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Anni313
Posts:
1,790
Joined: 2004/03/04 |
2005/02/02, 05:09 AM
Happy Groundhog Day everyone! Here are some fun facts to help make your Groundhog Day celebrations even more festive.
Yes! Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors. There has only been one Punxsutawney Phil. He has been making predictions for over 118 years! Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking "groundhog punch," a secret recipe. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life. On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter. According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil 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. No! Phil's forecasts are not made in advance by the Inner Circle. After Phil emerges from his burrow on February 2, he speaks to the Groundhog Club president in "Groundhogese"(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world. The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May..." Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887. So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br'er Groundhog. -------------- Anni ******* Laissez les bon temps roulez! |
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Anni313
Posts:
1,790
Joined: 2004/03/04 |
2005/02/02, 05:13 AM
I know a bunch of you are up early this morning so that you can watch Phil make his prediction, I couldn't sleep either. Here's a link to the live webcast which starts at 7am EST. http://groundhog.visitpa.com/-------------- Anni ******* Laissez les bon temps roulez! |
Anni313
Posts:
1,790
Joined: 2004/03/04 |
2005/02/02, 05:55 AM
I almost forgot!
For those of you so caught up in the whirlwind of Groundhog Day festivities that you've neglected to send your Groundhog Day cards, Hallmark.com has a lovely selection. -------------- Anni ******* Laissez les bon temps roulez! |
xxrajxx
Posts:
423
Joined: 2004/08/12 |
2005/02/02, 06:36 AM
completely forgot, thanks
that could have ended in a divorce if she didnt get the card |
yadmit
Posts:
4,670
Joined: 2003/10/05 |
2005/02/02, 06:44 AM
Now Anni.... Wiarton Willie in Wiarton claims to have a great prognostication record... but alas, one version of him died a couple years ago... perhaps Phil could pass along some longevity tips to Canada's Weather Rodent?-------------- This donut has purple in the middle, purple is a fruit. - Homer (Simpson) |
dfly411
Posts:
1,352
Joined: 2004/03/04 |
2005/02/02, 07:03 AM
Probably he should just drink coffee. ============ Quoting from anni313: Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking "groundhog punch," a secret recipe. ============= -------------- I can promise you that there is more to me than meets the eye..... (a tight pair of Levis hides alot) |
7707mutt
Posts:
7,686
Joined: 2002/06/18 |
2005/02/02, 07:23 AM
I think maybe we need to do an intervention for anni regarding her coffee problem LOL.-------------- If you can itch your nose after arm day...do another set! 7707mutt@freetrainers.com |
hecdarec
Posts:
2,457
Joined: 2003/12/16 |
2005/02/02, 10:03 AM
Holiday!!! Celebrate!!!! Come on lets celebrate!! Just one day out of life, it would be, it would be so nice.-------------- I agree with everything that Asimmer says. |
hecdarec
Posts:
2,457
Joined: 2003/12/16 |
2005/02/02, 10:23 AM
Punxsutawney Phil has spoken, and the news isn't good.
The world's most famous furry forecaster saw his shadow Wednesday on Gobbler's Knob, suggesting another six weeks of wintry weather. The chubby critter delivered the prediction after he was pulled from his burrow in an oak stump at 7:31 a.m. by a top-hatted handler, and his prediction was greeted by boos from the thousands in attendance. "He's only the messenger!" one of the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club the volunteer group in charge of Phil and the town's Groundhog Day festivities reminded the crowd braving the frigid weather. In the years since The Punxsutawney Spirit first carried word of the groundhog's failing to see its shadow in 1886, this town of 7,500 people about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh has been dubbed the "Weather Capital of the World." The tradition stems from the Christian holiday of Candlemas, and the belief that if a hibernating animal sees its shadow, winter will last another six weeks. If there's no shadow, spring will come early. That was the forecast from Lilburn, Ga., groundhog, Gen. Beauregard Lee, who did not see his shadow when he emerged as light rain fell Wednesday morning. Beau made his appearance with a female groundhog their handlers at Yellow River Game Ranch hope will produce offspring to continue the tradition if the aging prognosticator retires this year. In Punxsutawney, an energetic crowd of about 2,000 people was already assembled by 3:30 a.m. Most were bundled against the cold, but at least one young woman braved the weather in a bikini top. Nikki Wehrmann and her 9-year-old daughter, Arianne, had on layer upon layer as they huddled over coffee and hot chocolate. Arianne was taking the day off from school to see Phil, her mother said. They live in nearby DuBois. "We considered this an educational purpose," said Wehrmann, who told her daughter about the history of Groundhog Day and plans to have Arianne do a project on the event. "And anything that brings 20,000 or 30,000 people on some years we have to do it at least once," Wehrmann said. Resident Sue Lingenfelter said the annual frenzy, and just how famous Phil is, still amazes her. "I just placed a catalog order yesterday and the guy said to me, 'Is your town ready to go crazy?'" she said. Ward Brown, 50, and his sister Suzy Fulkerson, 41, came from Sparta, Ill., although they tied the trip in with a visit to their sister, who recently moved to nearby DuBois. "It was a good excuse to visit her," said Brown, who was toting a $75 stump of wood a craftsman had carved into the shape of a groundhog sporting a top hat. According to the Punxsutawney club, Phil saw his shadow for the 95th time. He hasn't seen his shadow 14 times; nine years have no record of the outcome. -------------- I agree with everything that Asimmer says. |
7707mutt
Posts:
7,686
Joined: 2002/06/18 |
2005/02/02, 11:01 AM
way way way to much free time Hec.-------------- If you can itch your nose after arm day...do another set! 7707mutt@freetrainers.com |
hecdarec
Posts:
2,457
Joined: 2003/12/16 |
2005/02/02, 11:40 AM
Only took me 3.5 seconds to copy and paste-------------- I agree with everything that Asimmer says. |
Pritchard
Posts:
1,212
Joined: 2004/03/02 |
2005/02/03, 10:10 AM
what are you people talking about, isnt that just a film?-------------- wax on, wax off |
xxrajxx
Posts:
423
Joined: 2004/08/12 |
2005/02/03, 10:14 AM
was that a movie, I thought that was a documentary
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asimmer
Posts:
8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07 |
2005/02/03, 11:05 AM
Wow - 'Groundhogs Gone Wild!'
did you know another name for the groundhog is the 'whistle-pig'? because of the various hisses, squeals, growls, barks and teeth-chattering noises it emits? The elaborate architecture of a wood-chuck barrow (groundhogs are woodchucks), with lengths of 20-30 feet, includes spy holes, a tiolet chamber, nest,and nursery. -------------- Get er done |
xxrajxx
Posts:
423
Joined: 2004/08/12 |
2005/02/03, 11:07 AM
lets renmae the day whistle-pig day
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asimmer
Posts:
8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07 |
2005/02/03, 11:16 AM
Yes, I like whistle pig day much better - sounds like you should probably get drunk and whistle at people and eat pigs.
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xxrajxx
Posts:
423
Joined: 2004/08/12 |
2005/02/03, 11:21 AM
:laugh::laugh:
I dont eat pork, but sounds like one hec of a party Happy whistle-pig day everybody |
Pritchard
Posts:
1,212
Joined: 2004/03/02 |
2005/02/03, 02:56 PM
Message deleted by moderator due to unsuitable content for this board.
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Pritchard
Posts:
1,212
Joined: 2004/03/02 |
2005/02/03, 02:57 PM
sorry, naughty word came out.-------------- wax on, wax off |
Anni313
Posts:
1,790
Joined: 2004/03/04 |
2005/02/03, 05:08 PM
Sniff... Asimmer, I'm so proud of you!-------------- Anni ******* Laissez les bon temps roulez! |
bb1fit
Posts:
11,105
Joined: 2001/06/30 |
2005/02/03, 07:03 PM
For all you groundhog guru's, I think you will like this!
http://mfile.akamai.com/5028/wma/bobntom.download.akamai.com/5028/clips/cotw/groundhog_day.asx -------------- If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.... bb1fit@freetrainers.com |
xxrajxx
Posts:
423
Joined: 2004/08/12 |
2005/02/04, 06:27 AM
hec = Hell of a party
must be a uk thing :cool: |
Pritchard
Posts:
1,212
Joined: 2004/03/02 |
2005/02/05, 11:16 AM
i knew what you meant raj, i am in the UK you know.-------------- wax on, wax off |
xxrajxx
Posts:
423
Joined: 2004/08/12 |
2005/02/06, 03:01 PM
sorry mate
realized that after posting it wher in uk u from? |
Pritchard
Posts:
1,212
Joined: 2004/03/02 |
2005/02/08, 02:48 PM
sorry if my post sounded sarcastic or nob like, it wasnt meant to be.
im in northamptonshire in england, you? -------------- wax on, wax off |
xxrajxx
Posts:
423
Joined: 2004/08/12 |
2005/02/08, 03:57 PM
Wycombe, Bucks
been to Northhamton, got my car audio nicked there :angry::angry: |