A weather man is reluctantly
sent to cover a story about a weather forecasting "rat" (as he calls it).
This is his fourth year on the story, and he makes no effort to hide his
frustration. On awaking the 'following' day he discovers that it's Groundhog
Day again, and again, and again. First he uses this to his advantage, then
comes the realisation that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the
same place, seeing the same people do the same thing EVERY day.
Приключения Фила из Феникса, Вилли из Канады и
Пита из Нью-Йорка
The Adventures of Punxsutawney Phil, Wiarton Willie,
and Pothole Pete
www.inforplease.com
by Holly
Hartman
February 2 brings the most-watched weather forecast of the year—and
the only one led by a rodent. Legend has it that on this morning, if
a groundhog can see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of
winter. If it cannot see its shadow, spring is on the way.
Why the Groundhog?
Since a groundhog (or woodchuck
or "whistle pig") hibernates for the winter, its coming out of the
ground is a natural sign of spring. In Europe centuries ago, people
watched for other hibernating animals, including badgers, bears, and
hedgehogs, as signs of winter's end. Germans who immigrated to
Pennsylvania
in the mid-1800s began keeping an eye on the groundhog. The
widespread population of the rodent made it a handy agent for this
particular weather superstition.
And a superstition it is. But there's a grain of truth: the winter
days when you can see your shadow clearly are often especially cold,
because there are no clouds overhead to insulate the earth.
Why now?
Early February is midway between the winter solstice
and the spring equinox.
Throughout history numerous holidays have marked this seasonal
crossroads. Among these is Candlemas
Day, February 2, a Christian holiday that celebrates Mary's ritual
purification. Early Christians believed that if the sun came out on
Candlemas Day, winter would last for six weeks more.
The ancient Romans observed a mid-season festival on February 5, and
the pagan Irish celebrated one around February 1. In many parts of
Europe early February might herald the start of spring, when crops
could be planted.
Punxsutawney Phil and Friends
In the 1880s some friends in Punxsutawney, Penn., went into the
woods on Candlemas Day to look for groundhogs. This outing became a
tradition, and a local newspaper editor nicknamed the seekers "the
Punxsutawney Groundhog Club." Starting in 1887 the search became an
official event centered on a groundhog called Punxsutawney Phil. A
ceremony still takes place every year.
Today Punxsutawney Phil lives in a climate-controlled habitat
adjoining the Punxsutawney Library. A local celebrity, he gained
national fame in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day
(which was shot in scenic Woodstock, Illinois).
The weather-watching rodent's predictions are recorded in the
Congressional Records of our National Archive. So far, Phil has seen
his shadow about 85% of the time.
Canada's Groundhog Day relies on the predictions of an albino
groundhog named Wiarton Willie. Although Punxsutawney Phil gets the
most attention, various American cities have their own special
groundhogs; New York City's official groundhog is called "Pothole
Pete."
weather forecast прогноз погоды
rodentгрызун
shadow
тень
to hibernate
находиться в зимней спячке
badger
барсук
bear
медведь
hedgehog
еж
to keep an eyeследить за
superstition
суеверие, предрассудок
to insulate the earth
изолировать/защитить землю
winter solstice
зимнее солнцестояние
spring equinoxвесеннее равноденствие
Candlemas DayПраздник Сретения
purificationочищение
pagan языческий
to heraldвозвещать, предвещать
to plant crops
сеять сельскохозяйственные культуры
to nicknameдавать кличку
habitatжилище
to adjoinпримыкать, присоединять
celebrityзнаменитость
Fun on Groundhog Day
(by
Barbara Walker)
There are shadows you make in the sunshine,
There are shadows you make by the lamp,
There are shadows that lurk in the forest
While you tell creepy stories at camp.
There
are shadows that help you with puppets,
And shadows ;you make just for play,
But the shadow that's famous is Groundhog's,
When he tells whether winter's to stay.
Let's
go out very early this morning
And watch for his shadow, my son;
It may not be at all scientific,
But you've got to admit that it's fun!