Groundhog Day

Groundhog’s Day

Vocabulary
To hibernate (verb)- to sleep through the winter.
hibernation (noun)- comes from hibernate. (a long sleep through the winter)
legend- (noun) old story that is told from parents to children, and children's children, for many, many years
shadow- (noun) darkness made where the light can't go through (when the sun shines you can see the dark outline of your body on the ground)

What’s Groundhog’s Day?

A groundhog is a small animal that digs and lives under the ground.  It is also called the woodchuck.  Groundhogs live in many parts of North America.  In the winter they hibernate like bears and some other animals.

There is a legend that a few hundred years ago Europeans brought Groundhog’s Day to America.  They said that the groundhog wakes up from its hibernation on February 2^nd.  (February 2^nd is halfway between winter and spring.)  If it comes up from its hole and it is sunny, it will see its shadow and be scared.  If it sees its shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter weather.  But if it comes up and the sky is cloudy, it will not see its shadow and will not be scared.  Then spring weather will come very soon.

Some people believe this legend and they watch the weather on February 2^nd. Many people are happy if it’s cloudy on that day.  They think Spring will come soon.  But most people think it’s just a fun legend.  What do you think?

1.    What is another name for a groundhog?

2.    What does a groundhog do during the winter?

3.    If a groundhog sees its shadow, what will happen?

 4. Do you know any other weather forecast superstitions or legends in cultures you are familiar with?