Joyce Wagner
In Motion Staff Writer
The weather in Florida and across the nation has been a roller-coaster ride of temperature extremes and precipitation. Knowing what the day will bring is vital in deciding what to wear. Checking weather on TV or online for updates gives the meteorologists’ take on things. An alternate is to pay attention to animal behavior.
According to folklore, animals have been predicting weather for centuries. Groundhog Day, initially celebrated as Candlemas, started when German immigrants watched hibernating animals as they popped their heads above ground.
A cloudy day gave no shadow and the end of winter weather. A sunny day however, meant there would be a shadow, followed by six more weeks of winter and more nap-time for the groundhog.
Probably the most famous groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil. The legend of Punxsatawney Phil came about around 1887, with help of an editor, Clymer H. Freas, who wrote a tale about a weather-predicting groundhog. Each year Freas added more details to his character until Phil became a phenomenon.
Phil does have competition. Atlanta has General Beauregard Lee, New York has Staten Island Chuck and Wiarton, Ontario, Canada has Wiarton Willie, to name a few of the more known rodents.
Groundhog Day gained in popularity with the 1993 movie of the same name, starring Bill Murray as a weatherman stuck in Punxsatwny,PA, repeating Groundhog Day over and over until he makes major life changes.
With all this attention, groundhogs must be fairly accurate. Not so. In fact, they have a less than 40 percent success rate. Perhaps a better, more accurate solution would be an old-time weather ‘burro’meter.
Simply tie a braided twine tail to a cardboard donkey and place in an area exposed to the weather. A plain rope on a nail would also work. Check daily, more often if necessary, to see the condition of the tail. If the tail is dry, the weather is fine. If it’s wet, rain. If it’s moving, it’s windy. If it’s moving quickly, there’s a storm. If it’s gone, there’s a hurricane – seek shelter!
Of course, the northerners may want to add a few more to their list to show for snow and freezing. California might change the hurricane to earthquake.
Meteorologists and barometers may be more accurate, but not nearly as cute and furry as a groundhog. And who doesn’t appreciate a reason to gather with others to celebrate with food and drink?
Punxsatawney Phil has a long life ahead of him.