Celebrity for a Day Groundhog
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
( ); y y release dates: January 28 February 3 4 1 (12) THE ADVOCATE-MESSENGER | WWW.AMNEWS.COM from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Groundhog Day Home in Pennsylvania Punxsutawney Phil may be the most Groundhog Day began in the famous groundhog United States in Pennsylvania, after in the United German settlers brought the idea States. Each year on Groundhog Day, © 2012 Universal Uclick from Europe. Phil is watched by from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Today, the biggest celebration is tens of thousands of Fun on Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pa. For 125 years, people in person and a groundhog named Punxsutawney more on television who wait for his Phil has predicted spring’s arrival. prediction about Celebrity for a Day Candlemas and Imbolc spring’s arrival. Phil is managed by February is Meet Chattanooga Experts a club called the a frigid month Chuck. He lives believe the Inner Circle. When for much of at the Tennessee Groundhog he is not predicting North America. Aquarium in Day the coming of Chattanooga, spring, Phil lives But on Feb. 2, tradition Tenn. in a terrarium at people in the Chuck’s front teeth began the Punxsutawney United States are used for biting with two Club Groundhog The of courtesy photos Memorial Library. and Canada plants. He also has festivals Punxsutawney Phil will be thinking chewing teeth. in Europe. He can also use The Groundhog Day tradition about spring. Candlemas his teeth to bite started in 1886 in Punxsutawney On Groundhog Day, a small animal is a Christian festival held on Feb. animals that are (punk-suh-TAWN-ee). The next year, will be pulled from a tree stump in threatening him. 2. Early Europeans believed that if people went to Gobbler’s Knob, a Pennsylvania. According to tradition, the sun shone on Candlemas, winter small hill outside of town, to wait if he sees his shadow, there will be six would continue, but if it was cloudy, for the groundhog to come out of his more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, photo courtesy of the Tennessee Aquarium Tennessee the of courtesy photo spring would come soon. Aquarium Tennessee courtesy photo burrow. spring will begin soon. Imbolc was celebrated during the Chattanooga Chuck at the Tennessee Today a This week, The Mini Page learns Middle Ages (400 to 1400) in Ireland. Aquarium gives his prediction about Where do they live? Hibernators small stage and when spring will come. more about this holiday and its This day, also around Feb. 1 or 2, Groundhogs can climb trees, but Groundhogs hibernate, or spend tree stump on traditions, and about groundhogs marked the beginning of spring. Groundhogs busy on Feb. 2 they mostly stay on the ground. They much of the winter in a dormant, Gobbler’s Knob themselves. Europeans used a hedgehog, Phil isn’t the only groundhog who live in underground homes called or sleepy, state. They go into their are the center What is a groundhog? badger or bear to look for a shadow looks for his shadow on Feb. 2. burrows. The animals use their burrows in the fall and block all the of the Feb. 2 on Candlemas. When Germans came Other events take place all around A groundhog is also called a strong front claws and teeth to dig a entrances with dirt. After about four celebration. FEBRUARY 2012 1, WEDNESDAY, to the U.S., they used groundhogs. the United States and Canada. woodchuck or a whistle pig. burrow and then line it with leaves months, as the weather gets warmer, After he People may also play games, (Groundhogs use a high-pitched and other soft they come back out. emerges, Phil whistle to alert other members of their materials. Add`i]gdj\]ndjgcZlheVeZg[dg dance, eat traditional foods and put Predators hWHISPERSv colony about danger.) Groundhogs <gdjcY]d\9VnZkZcih^cndjgVgZV# on plays. How will your community Groundhogs are hunted by wolves, his prediction One of Phil’s handlers Groundhogs are rodents, like mice are found mostly celebrate Groundhog Day? coyotes, foxes and eagles. They may The Mini Page thanks Thom Benson with to one of the knocks on his tree and rats. They are related to marmots in the eastern the Tennessee Aquarium for help with this stump to wake him up. get away by running into their burrow. Inner Circle. Next week, The Mini Page is about newly and squirrels. They may be about 20 United States and issue. discovered planets. If a groundhog is trapped, it tries to inches long and weigh about 10 pounds. most of Canada, fluff its fur to look bigger and grinds The Mini Page Staff These cute, friendly animals eat even as far north its teeth to scare the enemy. Betty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist leaves, berries, grasses and crops. as Alaska. B9 .