土撥鼠大爺:冬天還有兩個多月 - 華盛頓

Groundhog Day: Six more weeks of winter

David Wylie, Canwest News Service Published: Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Thousands of people gathered Tuesday to watch as Punxsutawney Phil emerged to
make his yearly Groundhog Day prediction in Punxsutawney, Penn.

"As the sky shines bright above me, my shadow I see beside me, six more weeks
of winter it will be," announced his handlers, dampening the hopes of an
early spring.

Canada's most famous groundhog, Wiarton Willie, was also spooked by his
shadow Tuesday morning.

And Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam also concurred. Sam, who calls
Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park home, was the first of the furry
forecasters Tuesday to weigh in on the weather.

Six more weeks of winter is great news for snow-starved Vancouver Olympic
organizers who have been crossing their fingers for snow, but the rest of
Canada may not be as pleased with Sam's prediction.

Environment Canada's forecasters seem to backup the groundhogs' consensus,
predicting colder than normal temperatures in the east, but warmer
temperatures in the west. Alberta's Balzac Billy's prediction is expected
later.

Legend has it that if a groundhog emerging on Groundhog Day does not see its
shadow, it will leave the burrow - a symbol that winter will soon end.
However, if the groundhog sees its shadow, it will retreat into its burrow,
meaning winter will continue for six more weeks. The holiday began in the
18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore.

In 2009, the three groundhogs also agreed winter would stretch six more
weeks. In 2008, however, the animals were splintered over whether the weather
would warm or stay chilly.


http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2512533

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