Each year, with the coming of Groundhog Day, I find myself incredibly amused! I can’t think for my life how people still believe in a groundhog to predict the span of winter. I mean we know that the best equipment and technology cannot predict the weather or natural calamities sometimes. It is true that a couple of centuries ago, people actually waited for the groundhog to come out of its furrow and indicate with a shadow that winter would last for another six weeks. In case there was no shadow formed because of a cloudy sky, it did not return to its furrow and it was believed that the climate would be moderate.

This was okay then, but to believe in a custom like this even today seems a little absurd to me. I accept that people look to these occasions sometimes just as an excuse for merry-making and to break open the monotony. If that is the reason, I’m all for it. It is really sad that we are caught up so densely in our own spheres that we look for windows to let in some fresh air. Events like Groundhog Day go a long way in making people feel that once upon a time we actually had the time to watch what a groundhog was doing. Do you believe in celebrating events like Groundhog Day? Do you find them redundant or excuses of fighting drudgery? I’m all eyes to read what you have to write.