2005 Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA.
好像沒有多少動物獲得象土撥鼠這樣高的榮譽，被美國和加拿大的人們視為預測春天何時到來的權威。每年
GroundhogDay（2月2日。好像中國的陰曆這一天叫做龍抬頭)都可以在電視上看到，在美國幾個不同地方的，Groundhog被18世紀紳士裝束的人士高高舉起，受到聚集觀看的人們的歡呼。不管看見沒看見自己的身影，它又重返自己的窩裏接著做夢去了。常在校園裏見到什麽動物挖的很大的洞，但不知道主人是誰，直到一天見到了這個原以為是在地下生活的土撥鼠。
嗨，大白天的，膽子不小呀。
看它往哪兒去。
噢，這是它的洞呀，淺了點兒，背還露在外麵呢。顧頭不顧尾的，怎麽和鴕鳥差不多。得，不打攪了。
又遇見一隻。跑得夠快的。
原來在這樹根底下有個洞呀。
夠棒的，上邊還帶了望口的，上下相同。瞧，這小家夥還挺沉得住氣的。
The groundhog (Marmota monax) is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels.
Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated in United States and Canada on February 2. In weather lore, if a groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, marmot, or ground squirrel, emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it will return into its burrow and winter will continue for 6 more weeks.[1] Candlemas is sometimes the same day, and has similar beliefs about the coming weather.
Historical origins
Perhaps the earliest known American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Historical Society of Berks County in Reading, Pennsylvania. The reference was made February 4, 1841 in Morgantown, Berks County, Pennsylvania storekeeper James Morris' diary: "Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."[1] (Lore has it that the groundhog is a timid creature, and the sight of his own shadow will scare him.)
In the United States the tradition derives from a Scottish poem:
As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and snow
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop
This tradition also stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day[2] and Groundhog Day. Candlemas, also known as the Purification of the Virgin or the Presentation, coincides with the earlier pagan observance Imbolc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day
