Groundhog Day

[Kaere]

Do you have a critter in your part of the world that predicts the length of your winter?

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/wiarton-willie-predicts-early-spring-shubenacadie-sam-disagrees-1.2216309

I think winter will be shorter this year for my part of the world... *fingers crossed*

[Agartha]

Does it work? I mean, is his forecast usually correct?

[Kaere]

Not usually lol...

[Agartha]

hahaha is anybody making money out of him?

[Kaere]

Nah, no money. It's a tradition that was brought over from Germany (I believe) way back when they started settling North America. I'll find a write up and post it, interesting story.

[Agartha]

Yes, please do

[Kaere]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/roots-of-groundhog-day-go-back-to-medieval-europe-1.2215627

[Rockhopper]

You mean this Groundhog Day?



Tim.

[Lenzabi]

They make a big deal of Puxatawney Phil in Pennsylvania when this day comes around

[Quietstorm]

On Punxsutawney Phil's Wikipedia page:

According to the Stormfax.com site, as of 2015 Punxsutawney Phil has made 119 predictions, with an early spring (no shadow) predicted 17 times (14.3%). The site states (without evidence or corroborative references) that as of 2015 the predictions have proved correct 39% of the time. This is significantly worse than chance (p = 0.008), and - if the accuracy figure is correct - suggests the traditional interpretation of Punxsutawney Phil's predictions should be reversed.

[Quietstorm]

Groundhogs only live about 6 years, so there have been several Punxsutawney Phils in our lifetimes.

[Stargate]

Groundhogs only live about 6 years, so there have been several Punxsutawney Phils in our lifetimes.

That does not leave a lot of time to gather experience, there must be a whole lot of guessing going on. Ground hog must be having fun with humans. Lol.

[Rockhopper]

Yep Star, those damned rodents are taking the mickey!

Tim.

[Lenzabi]

Bet they are laughing it up down in their dens

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