Carol Fisher-Linn
In far and away days of old, when you saw a cute hedgehog pop his head out of the ground after his winter nap (he is the precursor to the American substitute – the groundhog) and you were a farmer, you sharpened your planting tools and started laying in your spring seeds. If the hedgehog didn’t see that shadow, the farmers could continue playing checkers at the country store because they had a lot more winter coming their way. We may not be farmers, but we, too, find ourselves looking for harbingers of spring. Even before the robin, peepers and early snowdrops, we look for the groundhog.
Why, you might wonder, do we look for a groundhog? Well, for starters, we really need to confess that it was hedgehogs or even bears and other hibernating animals that the old Germans in Germany looked for in the beginning of February. We celebrate the most famous of all groundhogs, Punxsutawney Phil, because we were taught by immigrants to look for natures’ signs to begin spring planting. The German farmers were well acquainted with the hedgehog. It is a favorite in European gardens, both for its endearing appearance (again, they are sooo cute) and its preference for eating a range of garden pests, i.e., snails, slugs, beetles, ants, wasps, grasshoppers, etc. They are, indeed, welcome guests.
They watched for the hedgehog to emerge from its hibernation hole and hoped it would see its shadow so they had six weeks to get the farm ready. But… if he did NOT see his shadow, spring arrived quickly. To be fair, honest research will reveal that Groundhog Day is actually based on lore that clear weather on Candlemas Day predicts a longer winter.
According to Phil’s handler for the last ten years, AJ Dereume, in decades past there was always a late summer community hunt to track down groundhogs. Yes, groundhogs. In 1887, a groundhog loaded with charisma and bravado appeared on the hunt scene and stopped them dead in their tracks. There was something about him that made them realize they could no longer hunt groundhogs. Instead, he became a guest-of-honor at their annual post-hunting picnic where they no longer, ever again served groundhog. At that time, he taught them the recipe for a secret elixir (now called groundhog punch) and signaled that he needed to have that given to him every year at that time. So, the story goes, one sip guarantees him another 7 years of life. (Only works on Phil. Sorry humans.) Today, that very same groundhog is now 139 years old. Alas, his mortal wife Phyllis and their offspring, Sunny and Shadow will live out their expected 7-15 years of life, leaving his handlers to once again find Phil another mate.
In honor of Phil they formed a club that year with a nucleus of 15 native Punxsutawney-ers to celebrate Phil and perpetuate his story. Today, 15 locals remain the “Inner Circle” while anyone across the world can become a member of the club. Inner Circle folk, who usually have monikers beyond their given names, take turns being Phil’s handler. Many of you knew, or met his previous handler, Bill Deeley, aka “Digger O’Dell,” and surely some also know 4th generation AJ, aka” Rainmaker”/“His Handler” who will once again bring Phil to the Mardi Gras Parade in March this year (since the early 90’s.)
Traditionally, every year, the 15 Inner Circle members – in their top hats and formal attire, and thousands of Phil’s admirers gather at Gobblers Knob on February 2. The Handler knocks on the door of his den three times and scoops him out, sets him down and allows him to prognosticate. (Now, Phil’s not another Caleb Weatherbee, who is the official forecaster for the Farmer’s Almanac but they share one thing in common – the name Weatherbee is as eternal as is Phil, since the name (a pseudonym) has been passed down for generations possibly since 1818.) How often is Phil correct? Go to their website (groundhog.org) and search it out for yourself. But, truly, does it matter? What’s more fun is imagining his story and finding your own shadow or sunshine. Rest assured; Mother Nature will still do what she wants to do. Happy Groundhog Day! Look for Phil at the Parade!