02-02-2009, 02:46 PM
I want to draw your attention to today's post in the <a class='bbc_url' href='http://z1.invisionfree.com/forums/theSPacific/index.php?showtopic=5884&st=375&#last'>On This Day</a> thread:
Opinions?
Quote:There was a tradition in many European countries of watching animals ? especially badgers ? to see how they acted on this day. If they returned to their dens, it meant that there was still a long winter ahead.Now there still are not too many badgers in the wild in North America. Actually, there probably aren't that many wild badgers in the western hemisphere, but that is beside the point. Yes, yes, I know, the wild badger population in the eastern hemisphere is probably down from its height way back before people migrated into Europe, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Anywho, since, traditionally, the second of February was a day to observe badgers to determine how much longer winter would be (hint, 2 February is a "cross-quarter day" so regardless of whether the critter can see his shadow, we are halfway done with winter -- stop now, Fudgie. I know you're in summer now ), should we not call today the Day of the Badger instead?
German immigrants in Pennsylvania found that there weren't a lot of badgers in America, but there were a lot of groundhogs, so the holiday evolved into Groundhog Day. The first reference to Groundhog Day is from 1841, in the diary of a storekeeper in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. He wrote: "Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas 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 six weeks' nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."
Opinions?
I am the milkman of human kindness
And I will bring an extra pint -- B. Bragg
Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's masters. -- Grover Cleveland
When the laws are used to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society -- the farmers, mechanics, and laborers -- who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their government -- Andrew Jackson
"Capitalism takes no prisoners and kills competition where it can." -- Vince Cable
And I will bring an extra pint -- B. Bragg
Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's masters. -- Grover Cleveland
When the laws are used to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society -- the farmers, mechanics, and laborers -- who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their government -- Andrew Jackson
"Capitalism takes no prisoners and kills competition where it can." -- Vince Cable