Feb.2nd today America celebrates the national ground hog day. A very interesting holiday that stems from a society that was deeply involved with nature and animals.
The folklores have it that a groundhog emerging out of its burrow today would take stock of the weather. If it was cloudy it would leave the burrow indicating that the winter would soon end. If not it would return to the burrow and winter would continue for another six weeks.
In the modern times the holiday involves waking up early in the morning to watch the ground hog.
This holiday began in 18th – 19th century Pennsylvania a take of German weather lore where a badger indicated the change of season. The link of this weather lore can be seen in the medieval catholic holiday of Candlemas, the festival of Imbolc the Celtic calendar also celebrates feb.1st as weather prognostication
The earliest reference to this event is in a diary dated February 5th 1981 penned by storekeeper James Morris of Berks Country Pennsylvania: last Tuesday the 2nd was candelas day the day on which according to the Germans, the groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another 6weeks nap but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.
In the western country the official first day of spring is about 7 weeks after ground hog day that is March 20 –21, that is also round the time we celebrate Vasantotsav in India.
PS note
groundhog - reddish brown North American marmot --- stocky coarse-furred burrowing rodent with a short bushy tail found throughout the northern hemisphere; hibernates in winter—synonyms Marmota monax, woodchuck
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