Thursday, February 10, 2005
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Happy Groundhog Day !
From Wikipedia :
Groundhog Day is a traditional festival celebrated in the USA and Canada on February 2.
In the U.S. the tradition derives from a Scottish couplet:
If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
there'll be two winters in the year.
The tradition also stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day [1] (http://www.groundhog.org/history/tradition.shtml) and Hedgehog Day. Although the date is often referred to as one of the four quarter days of the year (the midpoints between the spring and fall equinoxes and the summer and winter solstice), it is in fact one of the cross-quarter days[2] (http://www.noblenet.org/year/groundhog.html).
The first Groundhog Day was observed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1887.
Tradition states that one must observe a groundhog's burrow on this day. If the groundhog emerges and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end; however, if the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks. Certain small towns have well-known meteorological groundhogs, such as Punxsutawney Phil (made famous by the Groundhog Day movie) and Wiarton Willie. Recently Shubenacadie Sam was introduced in Nova Scotia. The official groundhog forecaster for New York City is Staten Island Chuck.
Indeed, bright clear weather in a North American winter is often associated with very cold temperatures.
Annual predictions
2004 - Phil, 6 more weeks; Willie, 6 more weeks; Sam, an early spring
And, for Supersuzy : check out this blog ~ it's filled with shopping tips for the sistas....!
We had a weekend away in Durban this last weekend, and I bought a copy of Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, on reccommendation from Craig....I have yet to start reading it, since I am currently reading Farenheit 9/11....
Heidi is reading Branson's biography, "Losing My Virginity", and she reports that it is an enthralling account of a life less ordinary !
I also gave blood yesterday, and this week is week two of playing squash twice a week in the morning before work - 3 sessions down, and 18 to go (21 times in succession, forms a habit, I am led to believe....)
Oh ! Dillo and Supersuzy are moving house today ! I wish them all the best, and a great house-warming at the end of it - Mamacita* is travelling to Cape Town for a conference, and will stop by to check out the new digs....
*credit due to scarbiedoll for this name - I hope I can use it too...
Groundhog Day is a traditional festival celebrated in the USA and Canada on February 2.
In the U.S. the tradition derives from a Scottish couplet:
If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
there'll be two winters in the year.
The tradition also stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day [1] (http://www.groundhog.org/history/tradition.shtml) and Hedgehog Day. Although the date is often referred to as one of the four quarter days of the year (the midpoints between the spring and fall equinoxes and the summer and winter solstice), it is in fact one of the cross-quarter days[2] (http://www.noblenet.org/year/groundhog.html).
The first Groundhog Day was observed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1887.
Tradition states that one must observe a groundhog's burrow on this day. If the groundhog emerges and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end; however, if the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks. Certain small towns have well-known meteorological groundhogs, such as Punxsutawney Phil (made famous by the Groundhog Day movie) and Wiarton Willie. Recently Shubenacadie Sam was introduced in Nova Scotia. The official groundhog forecaster for New York City is Staten Island Chuck.
Indeed, bright clear weather in a North American winter is often associated with very cold temperatures.
Annual predictions
2004 - Phil, 6 more weeks; Willie, 6 more weeks; Sam, an early spring
And, for Supersuzy : check out this blog ~ it's filled with shopping tips for the sistas....!
We had a weekend away in Durban this last weekend, and I bought a copy of Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, on reccommendation from Craig....I have yet to start reading it, since I am currently reading Farenheit 9/11....
Heidi is reading Branson's biography, "Losing My Virginity", and she reports that it is an enthralling account of a life less ordinary !
I also gave blood yesterday, and this week is week two of playing squash twice a week in the morning before work - 3 sessions down, and 18 to go (21 times in succession, forms a habit, I am led to believe....)
Oh ! Dillo and Supersuzy are moving house today ! I wish them all the best, and a great house-warming at the end of it - Mamacita* is travelling to Cape Town for a conference, and will stop by to check out the new digs....
*credit due to scarbiedoll for this name - I hope I can use it too...
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