The Groundhog Day Story

<h1>The Groundhog Day Story</h1>Author: <a title="Mimi Rothschild" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/mimi-rothschild/21745.htm">Mimi Rothschild</a> Groundhog Day is held on the second of February each month. This day is considered a cross-quarter day, falling between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.

It is said that if the groundhog emerges from its burrow on the second of February and sees its shadow, the groundhog will be frightened and retreat back into its den. Then, America will receive six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, we can expect an early spring.

German and French, and Celtic beliefs have influenced this notion. The superstition has its roots in the pagan belief that animals can be communed with to obtain secrets about the future. This practice was Christianized and turned into Candlemas, a European holiday during which people would look to the weather pattern on the cross-quarter day to determine future weather patterns. The following Scottish poem tells us about how people viewed Candlemas:

As the light grows longer

The cold grows stronger

If Candlemas be fair and bright

Winter will have another flight

If Candlemas be cloud and rain

Winter will be gone and not come again

A farmer should on Candlemas day

Have half his corn and half his hay

On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop

You can be sure of a good pea crop

Today, we understand that this is nothing but superstition. No one believes that the actions of the groundhog actually have any bearing on weather patterns. It’s just an old tradition that we still celebrate as a fun family activity.

About the Author: Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling mother, writer, children’s rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of home education company Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of 28 years reside with their 8 children right outside Philadelphia, PA. 
 
Rothschild launched Learning By Grace, Inc. because she believed that our nation’s public school system has failed parents and students. Learning By Grace, Inc. offers online education through a multimedia-rich curriculum to PreK-12 children across the country and throughout the world. 
 
An accomplished author, Rothschild has written books regarding education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Feed consists of articles and essays dealing with alternative learning methods.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/the-groundhog-day-story-141385.html" title="The Groundhog Day Story">The Groundhog Day Story</a>

Groundhog Day is held on the second of February each month. This day is considered a cross-quarter day, falling between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.

It is said that if the groundhog emerges from its burrow on the second of February and sees its shadow, the groundhog will be frightened and retreat back into its den. Then, America will receive six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, we can expect an early spring.

German and French, and Celtic beliefs have influenced this notion. The superstition has its roots in the pagan belief that animals can be communed with to obtain secrets about the future. This practice was Christianized and turned into Candlemas, a European holiday during which people would look to the weather pattern on the cross-quarter day to determine future weather patterns. The following Scottish poem tells us about how people viewed Candlemas:

As the light grows longer

The cold grows stronger

If Candlemas be fair and bright

Winter will have another flight

If Candlemas be cloud and rain

Winter will be gone and not come again

A farmer should on Candlemas day

Have half his corn and half his hay

On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop

You can be sure of a good pea crop

Today, we understand that this is nothing but superstition. No one believes that the actions of the groundhog actually have any bearing on weather patterns. It’s just an old tradition that we still celebrate as a fun family activity.

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling mother, writer, children’s rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of home education company Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of 28 years reside with their 8 children right outside Philadelphia, PA.

Rothschild launched Learning By Grace, Inc. because she believed that our nation’s public school system has failed parents and students. Learning By Grace, Inc. offers online education through a multimedia-rich curriculum to PreK-12 children across the country and throughout the world.

An accomplished author, Rothschild has written books regarding education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Feed consists of articles and essays dealing with alternative learning methods.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/the-groundhog-day-story-141385.html

Article Tags: Online Education, Home Schooling, Homeschooling, Online Homeschooling, Christian Homeschooling

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