Early spring?

(Feb. 6, 2012) Saturday was Groundhog Day when, according to legend, Punxsutawney (Pa.) Phil comes out of his burrow to check for his shadow. If he sees it, that sight predicts six more weeks of winter. Well, Phil, along with a lot of other predictors, did not see his shadow so spring is on its way soon. It can't come fast enough for me. The current cold temperatures are bone-chilling.

For more than 120 years, Punxsutawney Phil annually has offered his predictions, based on whether he sees his shadow (more winter) or not (an early spring) after emerging from his burrow in Punxsutawney, Pa, located outside of Pittsburgh and part of Jefferson County.

While the rest of the nation was becoming more urban, Jefferson County remained more rural with only one eighth of the population living in places with 2,500 people or more (compared to nearly half statewide and more than a third in the U.S.). Many Jefferson residents worked in the farming industry.

Groundhog Day originally was called Candlemas, a day that Germans said the hibernating groundhog took a break from slumbering to check the weather. If the creature sees its shadow, and is frightened, winter will hold on and hibernating will continue, but if not, the groundhog will stay awake and spring will come early.

The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place in 1887 and Phil has gone on to star in a blockbuster film, dominate the early February news cycle, and even appear on Oprah. He also has his own Beanie Baby and his own flower.

Fun facts like these can be found in Recorder Community Newspapers and their blogs right here online at newjerseyhills.com. Any local individual or organization representative who would like to join the growing list of Recorder bloggers is welcome to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com for details on this simple, free communication tool.