2009-02-02

Happy Imbolc (Groundhog Day) 2009!

The sun has not yet risen this morning, but the sky is clear as dawn lightens to day. It's likely that "Flatbush Fluffy", the resident Marmota monax, will see his shadow today, if only he would get out of bed.

Happy Groundhog Day!

It's a very different Imbolc than last year. Yesterday and today are the first days since December that I remember we had nighttime temperatures above freezing, which is a deep freeze for us. Last year was the first NYC January without snow in 75 years. This Winter we've been hit with multiple snow storms. I think we're up to five. Also unlike this time last year, there's been no sign of my Spring early warning system: snowdrops and crocuses. So I guess we really are in for a few more weeks of Winter.
Groundhog Day, celebrated on February 2, has its roots in an ancient Celtic celebration called Imbolog [Wikipedia: Imbolc]. The date is one of the four cross-quarter days of the year, the midpoints between the spring and fall equinoxes and the summer and winter solstice. - NOBLE Web: Groundhog Day
The groundhog, Marmota monax, also known as a woodchuck, groundhog, or whistlepig, is the largest species of marmot in the world.

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Related posts

2008
2007

Links

Wikipedia: Imbolc

4 comments:

Newburgh Restoration said...

I'm so excited about Spring this year! Can't wait for March 20th!

Anonymous said...

I love Fluffy - what a cutie. Our resident groundhog wouldn't come out of her den, let alone look for her shadow. And it's officially the snowiest winter on record where we are, which is getting old fast.

Brenda from Flatbush said...

Whistlepig! What a great name for a band, or a pub!

Anonymous said...

Me too anxiously waiting for the lovely spring.... :)