Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Punx Rocker

This is a Special Edition post.

Given what day it is, I'm sure any of you who know me well are not overly surprised to see me. For those of you who are not aware of the importance of today, it is Groundhog Day. Let me give you a little history about how this all started:


German tradition holds that if the sun comes out on Candlemas, the precursor to Groundhog Day, the hedgehog (or badger) will see its shadow and six more weeks of winter will follow. When German settlers came to Pennsylvania they continued this tradition, using groundhogs instead of hedgehogs to predict the weather.

The first official Groundhog Day was celebrated on February 2, 1886 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with a proclamation in The Punxsutawney Spirit by the newspaper's editor, Clymer Freas: "Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow." The legendary first Groundhog Day trip to Gobbler's Knob was made the following year by a group of spirited groundhog hunters who dubbed themselves "The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club." Clymer, a member of the club, used his editorial clout to proclaim that Phil, the Punxsutawney Groundhog, was the one and only official weather prognosticating groundhog.

Phil's fame began to spread and newspapers from around the world began to report his predictions. Growing legions of fans started making the trek to Punxsutawney every February 2, and with the release of the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, the crowds began to number in the tens of thousands. Phil's yearly Groundhog Day predictions are actually even entered into the Congressional Record! 


My PUs have put their foot down every year and forbid me to go, thinkin' that I might get a little carried away with the party spirit and cause some trouble.


 For once they couldn't have been more right.


I'm really havin' a blast here at Gobbler's Knob and would love to return again next year. But after 124 years of a rodent predictin' the weather, I think it's time for a change. This is, after all, the 21st century and who has time to travel when they can just turn on the TV?

Fast forward to Groundhog Day 2011


Happy Groundhog Day!
Chester ;0=)

Pee. Ess. That last picture was made in honor of my Uncle Scott's birthday which is today. He inspired it because he says I look like Al Roker. BOL!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Scotty!!!

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Chester.. you may be chocolate but you're no al roker... you're clearly denzel. I like your thinking.. Down with Rodent Weatherman Up with Chesterhog!
Dawg ! You are talking my language
norwood

Life With Dogs said...

Careful Chester, if you eat the whole thing at once there's going to be a high pressure system building in your southern hemisphere!

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! What great post. Happy Groundhog Day. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

karenharrisonbinette said...

Thanks for making this special appearance on this special day, Chester!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for mentioning Uncle Scott .. LOL !!

he did not see his shadow either this morning !!!

See you Al ..I mean Chester !!

Auntie Net

Golden Samantha said...

You'd make a furry good meaty urologist, Chester. (Or mayhap the groundhog would heheh).
Hugs xo
Sammie

Remington said...

First off -- Happy Birthday to your uncle! And then the big question -- what did you do with Phil?

Two French Bulldogs said...

Chester, we decided its a big hamster!
Benny & Lily

Unknown said...

BOL! Chester you quack me up. And please tell Uncle Scotty, Happy Birthday from the Twink.
Twink!

Stella said...

Good stories, Chester, this one was worth a wait!

Kisses,
Stella

Sagira said...

Happy Groundhog day to you as well!

Budrow Wilson Spain said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE SCOTT!!! What a wonderful post Chester! I love how you got to 'replace' the handler for today. We don't need not stinking Ground Hog to tell us the weather and Chocolate Lab is far more appealing!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Happy Whistle Pig Day!

Happy Birthday to your Unkhle Skhott too!

Hogz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Did woo get any snow?

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

we were happy to hear that there would be six more weeks of winter, but where is the snow? And our Mom is really disappointed - she wants spring so much.

Today is our human uncle Jeff's birthday too. Happy b-day to your Uncle Scott.

Woos, Phantom and Thunder

Cocorue said...

hey Chester, TQ for putting a smile on mumster's wet face as she's worried about Max

love you lots
coco

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