What's with Groundhog Day

I have nothing much against rodents. I sometimes enjoy the little red squirrel that comes to the birdfeeder. One of Canada's revered symbols is the industrious beaver. The search for beaver skins opened up our vast land to explorers, trading posts and settlers.The furs were to become top hats for the high and mighty of Europe.

I'm not so keen on gerbils, hamsters and mice. Their care seemed to become my responsibility as they lived close to immortal lives in their often cleaned cages. 

Rats are definitely disgusting, at least the monsters that emerged from the old wharves when they were being replaced. Ferrets I understand take care of the rats, but I know from personal experience at a neighbour's house, ferrets have a penchant for biting human feet.

I am skeptical about the Groundhog's Shadow's ability to forecast a late or early arrival of spring on February 2. I am not sure I know anyone who actually knows what a shadow sighting means. 

Yes, the movie "Groundhog Day" is good, but it doesn't have the stuff of a yearly special.

My greatest interest in groundhogs was the bump on my father's big toe. My father claimed that it contained a tooth of a groundhog that had broken off when it bit him long, long ago. The warning was to always wear boots when out in the fields.

The silliness of the grand celebrations of Shubenacadie Sam, Punxsutawny Phil, Wiarton Willie are a little overdone. There is the incident of Wiarton Willie waking up dead on his big day. This really didn't seem to phase the officials, as his earthly remains was still capable of casting a shadow.

St. Bridget's Day or Imbolc, from the Celtic tradition, hold the roots of the day's specialness. Suffice it to say St. Bridget has Irish chutzpah, promotes healing, loves peace and maybe an early feminist. Her day involves candlelight, dollmaking and cows AND is celebrated with a feast of butter, cream, cheese and oatcakes.

Personally, imagining this day, halfway between winter solstice and spring solstice, as the day the seeds awaken in the cold ground is something to celebrate. I'll leave the groundhogs to others.