# Happy Groundhog Day! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 2, 2000, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362 "2000-02-02T16:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PurpleCrackwhore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc348/32.png) [@PurpleCrackwhore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleCrackwhore)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/1 "2000-02-02T16:16:00Z")
Guess it is six more weeks of winter tho… I want my summer back!!! How did groundhog day get started anyway…and why does it matter if the little critter sees his shadow or not? * * * I really try to be good but it just isn’t in my nature! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/2 "2000-02-02T16:27:00Z")
Dang, you beat me to it, PCW! Also, happy Candlemas, and Happy Imbolc. -Melin ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/3 "2000-02-02T16:28:00Z")
Groundhog’s Day, oh boy. A tradition dating back something like 115 years now. Let me explain something: **It’s early February in Pennsylvania! Of course winter is going to last six more weeks!** Doesn’t it every year? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/4 "2000-02-02T16:47:00Z")
Cecil’s take on [Groundhog’s Day](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a940401a.html). * * * “A bird in the hand is the Devil’s workshop; it is the goose that laid the bad apple.” - TennHippie ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/5 "2000-02-02T17:46:00Z")
As I understand it, if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he DOESN’T see his shadow, winter will only last another month-and-a-half. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/6 "2000-02-03T06:10:00Z")
I live about 40 miles away from Punxatawney. Out here, especially with the proximity of Penn State University’s main campus, it’s basically a day(actually beginning on 2/1 when the bars close at 2 AM) to drink, hop on charter busses, drink, stand out in the cold, drink, look at the groundhog, drink, you get the idea. Of course, I’m not saying that’s the meaning or the origin, just what it basically has become. I have a couple of friends that have gone, they say it’s a pretty good time. A little too cold if you ask me. * * * Always be ready to speak your mind and a base man will avoid you. -William Blake ---
**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/7 "2000-02-03T06:17:00Z")
That was Wiarton Willie’s job until he kicked the bucket last year. Now it’s _Wee Willie’s_ job (I kid you not!) and the damn critter saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised, really. [http://www.wiarton-willie.org/index.cfm](http://www.wiarton-willie.org/index.cfm) * * * Eat right, exercise daily, live clean, die anyway. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/8 "2000-02-03T06:22:00Z")
I believe its if a groundhog posts a flame in the bbq pit, and David B. doesn’t respond…wait, thats different. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cheese\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cheese\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheese_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/9 "2000-02-02T19:03:00Z")
Jimmy the Groundhog in Sun Prairie, Wisc (near Madison) did not see his shadow, so an early spring is coming for us. He is listed as the official groundhog in some DC document (library of congress?), so he is the #1 rodent ahead of Punxatawney Phil. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/10 "2000-02-02T19:29:00Z")
Hmmmm, Cheese Head, not doubting you, just wondering how Phil got to be the one on the cover of USA Today and Jimmy, well seems to be out of the limelight. * * * Always be ready to speak your mind and a base man will avoid you. -William Blake ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/11 "2000-02-02T19:37:00Z")
Jimmy is mentioned in _The Congressional Record_ dated February 2, 1955. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/12 "2000-02-02T19:39:00Z")
“Don’t drive angry!” * * * Jodi _Fiat Justitia_ ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/13 "2000-02-02T21:54:00Z")
Charletons, all!!! The one and only real rodent prognosticator is General Beauregard Lee, at the Yellow River Game Ranch in Stone Mountain, Georgia. All others are merely pretenders to the throne. See Gen. Lee here: [www.yellowrivergameranch.com/BIO.HTM](http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com/BIO.HTM)[www.yellowrivergameranch.com/GHDAY.HTM](http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com/GHDAY.HTM) And show some respect will ya? * * * The overwhelming majority of people have more than the average (mean) number of legs. – E. Grebenik ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/14 "2000-02-02T22:26:00Z")
**ReseviourDog** , I hear ya. I’m in NY and, until recently, I thought six weeks _was_ the shorter time. If it only lasts six more weeks, I’ll be happy. * * * “Neil, Neil, orange peel!” ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-groundhog-day/13362/15 "2000-02-02T23:32:00Z")
In an episode of the Three Stooges in the early 50s, they spoofed _Dragnet._ At one point they said: _Moe:_ I’m Halliday. _Larry:_ I’m Tarriday. _Shemp:_ I’m Ground Hog Day! _(Holds up a package of sausage)_😃😃😃 * * * “If you drive an automobile, please drive carefully–because I walk in my sleep.”–Victor Borge