Spring Break
Holiday puts spotlight on cute, overlooked pet
MICHELLE FLOYD
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Out & About
I've never been one to call Groundhog Day my favorite holiday (in fact, I've always seen it as a pretty pointless day), but I'm starting to see how it is a fun time of year.
Most groundhogs are pretty cute (if you're into that big rat type of look). And it's so bizarre how people from various parts of the world give so much attention to one animal for one day.
And a lot of these groundhogs, which mostly just sit around and sleep all day, even have their own handlers and trainers.
People gather in their hometowns (and some even travel to Washington, D.C. or other places with famous groundhogs) to stand out in the cold (and rain and snow and ice, sometimes) to watch this little creature wake up and walk out of his residence.
And all for what? To predict the weather weeks and months in advance - something even a weatherman can't do too accurately.
I wonder if he knows what a scene he's causing?
He's probably sad the rest of the year when he doesn't have such a crowd gathering outside of his door.
Most people will take the groundhog's shadow (or lack thereof) as a serious fact that winter will go away soon or stay a little longer, even if various groundhogs have different "predictions."
Don't weathermen matter anymore?
If a groundhog is right, it's by pure luck. But it's fun to play along.
Most groundhogs are pretty cute (if you're into that big rat type of look). And it's so bizarre how people from various parts of the world give so much attention to one animal for one day.
And a lot of these groundhogs, which mostly just sit around and sleep all day, even have their own handlers and trainers.
People gather in their hometowns (and some even travel to Washington, D.C. or other places with famous groundhogs) to stand out in the cold (and rain and snow and ice, sometimes) to watch this little creature wake up and walk out of his residence.
And all for what? To predict the weather weeks and months in advance - something even a weatherman can't do too accurately.
I wonder if he knows what a scene he's causing?
He's probably sad the rest of the year when he doesn't have such a crowd gathering outside of his door.
Most people will take the groundhog's shadow (or lack thereof) as a serious fact that winter will go away soon or stay a little longer, even if various groundhogs have different "predictions."
Don't weathermen matter anymore?
If a groundhog is right, it's by pure luck. But it's fun to play along.
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