How did an early Christian blessing and distributing of candles day, known as Candlemas, switch to a day for a groundhog to predict the weather?
Apparently February 2 is considered the middle of winter. Since people were hoping that the last half of winter would be short, they received candles blessed by priests and looked to the animals in nature to give them an indication of how soon spring would arrive.
Tradition says that the groundhog comes out of his hole to check for his shadow on February 2 and if he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole.
Hence, if the day is cloudy and shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.
Somehow this seems backward to me, but apparently the Romans brought the tradition to the Germans who watched hedgehogs for the telltale length of winter prediction. When Germans settled in Pennsylvania, they decided that groundhogs had a close resemblance to hedgehogs (same -hog ending in their name and all, I guess) and were an intelligent and sensible enough animal to take over the job.
Punxsutawney Phil, residing in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania, is now the official groundhog that the country looks to for the famous weather prediction. One of my favorite movies is appropriately named Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, where you can see the celebrity himself (meaning Phil, not Bill).
Since my grandparents lived in Pennsylvania I’m thinking that we need to do some family history searching to find that German/Roman connection, and I’m happy to share my Grandmother’s recipe straight from Pennsylvania for Cherries in the Snow. Here’s to an early spring!
Menu
Hamburgers (get it? – groundhog – why do we call them hamburgers anyway? It’s beef!)
Carrot and Raisin Salad
Homemade Potato Wedges
Grandma Violet Caldwell’s Cherries in the Snow
Cherries in the Snow
9×13 pan or 2 8×8 pans
1 8oz package softened Cream Cheese
Beat cream cheese until smooth
1 cup sifted Powdered Sugar
1 container of Cool Whip
Mix with cream cheese
Spread a thin layer of cream cheese mixture on the bottom of the pan(s)
Angel Food Loaf
Cut into three long horizontal layers and cover the bottom of the pan(s)
Top with remaining cream cheese mixture, covering completely
1 can prepared cherry pie filling
Carefully spoon over mixture.
Chill at least 8 hours.
