In the years since The Punxsutawney Spirit first carried word of the groundhog’s failing to see its shadow in 1886, this town of 7,500 people about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh has been dubbed the “Weather Capital of the World.” The tradition stems from the Christian holiday of Candlemas, and the belief that if a hibernating animal sees its shadow, winter will last another six weeks. If there’s no shadow, spring will come early.
If it were up to Phil, that’s six more weeks of winter for you lot in the path of Alberta clippers, Pacific rains and Nor’easters. But, it’s not.
Punxsutawney may be the weather capital of the world, but did you know that Sun Prairie, WI is the groundhog capital of the world? And that the reigning whistling pig-in-chief, Jimmy, announced EARLY SPRING earlier today. Who are you going to trust – a weather hog named Phil or the capo di tutti capo of groundhogs himself?
Why, in 1955, Congress themselves proclaimed the superiority of the Sun Prairie groundhogs over other posers.
Unaware until a couple of days ago of Phil’s annual Groundhog Day stretch limo ride with police escort, I asked D what Jimmy does on February 2nd.
His patented dead-pan reply, “I don’t know. Make like Tommy Thompson and give a drunk speech after a Packer win? The fans cheered from the stands and yelled, ‘Woohoo, Tommy’s lit up!’ It was great.”
I can only imagine Jimmy’s declaration after a long night out, “*hic* I shee shix shadows. *burp* Nooo, make that shree shadows. Aaah, to hell with it, it’s shpring. Now, get me a couple of *hic* Aspirins and carry me back to my burrow. ”
Wisconsin 4 Ever.
Does forty-one straight days with the daily high above 30 degrees count as early spring? Or are we being globally warmed? In the latter case Jimmy (and Phil) soon may be out of a job.
A pretty mild winter down here, too. A year is just a single datum on a climactic record of years. However, with more years like this, it turns into a trend …
Jimmy and Phil will go the way of Spuds MacKenzie – early retirement with a golden parachute.
Blair beat me to the punch. . .
I thought of you yesterday, Maitri, since it was announced right before tehe Superbowl that the Saints will play in New Orleans on 9/24/06. Great news!
Oh, and here I thought you had something to say about the Packers.
09/24/06 – if it’s not being used as a hurricane shelter at that point. Forgive me, Lord, for I have a headache today which renders me fairly jaded.
Yes, it is indeed great news that the Saints will be marching back in to the Superdome. They need the morale boost of a real home advantage. Still, am I buying season tickets? No! I’m no fool. OTOH, I’m willing to marry any multimillionaire with failing health who has Packer season tickets.
Hey, did you notice in the SM post on Desis in the NFL that Sanjay Beach played for the 49ers and the Packers during his career?
Nothing about yesterday’s game was good, except for Mick Jagger’s sparkly shirt. Can you believe he is 62? I can.