Groundhog’s Day is a holiday that is celebrate every February. Passed down through centuries, the tradition states that if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see a shadow, an early spring is on the way. This holiday is not very controversial, nor does it really seem to predict weather patterns well. But one things it has done is it has gotten two of our writers arguing about the merits of the day. Take a look at two takes on the day.
Emma’s Take
Every year on February 2, a tradition for Canadians and Americans alike, plagues our nations. On this day a groundhog will emerge from dirt, either claiming to see its own shadow, or the absence of his reflective silhouette will hold the burden of answer. This will tell the people whether we must suffer from a brittle 6 more weeks of bone chilling winter, or if we should be lucky enough for spring to warm our hearts and minds.
“I understand that it is a long standing tradition, but how does this earth dweller “Phil” dictate winter or spring,” said senior Ava Riehl.
Unfortunately, this holiday is a fable. This groundhog rarely holds an accuracy. In fact studies have found that flipping a coin would statistically be more accurate for telling us if spring will come early. What is true is the deep rooted corruption that ensues in the midst of this holiday.
For starters, the public is deceived when it comes to the groundhog. The people involved will never outwardly tell a lie, but they will lead individuals to believe one thing to be true when it is not. The groundhog never actually sees his shadow. It is apparent that individuals are unaware of this.
When senior Yashvi Javia was asked how she feels about the groundhog she stated, “I hate that stupid groundhog, and it’s always cold and cloudy so of course it’s always going to see its shadow.”
While this point really resonated with me, it became apparent that very few at Saucon actually know how groundhog day works. The groundhog never looks for his shadow. No, rather it picks from two scrolls that either say shadow or no shadow.
The groundhog also dies. It has been replaced many times and given the same name over and over “Puxatony Phil.” If you support Groundhog Day, you support lying to people, simply for tradition.
Groundhog Day is also cultish. Men with weird hats and names will be “keepers” of the groundhog and yell things into a large bellowing crowd. This is weird and sounds like an extracurricular that Charles Manson himself would participate in.
All in all, it’s apparent throughout history that Groundhog Day is an injustice in the world that needs to be corrected.
Jacob’s Take
Every February 2nd, a special event known as Groundhog Day takes place. This holiday is celebrated across the United States, but its original location is Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day has been a tradition since 1887, with roots that go back even further. The day revolves around a humorous groundhog that makes a weather prediction based on whether he sees his shadow.
“I like Groundhog Day! I think it’s a lighthearted holiday that brings joy to all,” said junior Alexander Morawski.
The rules are simple: if Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if he doesn’t, an early spring is on the way. It is said that Phil has been the same groundhog since 1887. This lighthearted holiday brings joy to many and boosts tourism in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
“It excites the people when waiting to see the potential shadows of the groundhog. It’s a cute holiday that unites the people,” said senior Ivy Chen.
While some people view this holiday as merely foolish, I believe it sparks a sense of hope that many find uplifting. Groundhog Day benefits people’s lives by providing a reason to look forward to something, rather than feeling depressed or lonely.
“This holiday is stupid and pointless,” said sophomore Ryan Pakzad.
This special holiday brings over a million dollars to the local economy of the Bureau of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania. This may not seem that much, but for a small bureau with a population of less than six thousand, the community looks forward to this holiday as, with an estimated crowd of over thirty thousand visitors, there is a significant increase in hotel bookings, restaurant visits and more. I couldn’t imagine how much profit could be lost due to the loss of this historic holiday.
Punxsutawney Phil does have a unique backstory. It is said that Phil has never been replaced and that it has been the same groundhog since 1887. But realistically, we all know that a ground cannot live that long as the average lifespan for a captive groundhog is around fourteen years old. But the myth of the legendary senior rodent creates a mythical creature like Santa Claus. This creates a holiday for children to believe in something for the greater good.
