The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-02-02
honorable body to grant our petition
and let these awnings remain
GROUNDHOG Is
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GROUNDHOG Is
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Some there are who laugh and scout
the theory, which has become popular
with the passing years, but the fact re-
mains that not long since the animal
saw his shadow in 1906 has the Walla
Walla valley experienced late spring.
Weather Observer Grover was il
line for convincing argument this
morning when a curious one asked him
for facts concerning the actions of
the grounding, and it was not until
he had consulted his records that he
really began to believe in the truth of
the proposition. In 1906 the sun shone
brightly on February 2. The ground
hog emerged and saw his shadow.
Ergo, some more winter. From
March IL to Is, 1906, the mer-
curry dropped to a point lower than
that of last night, and spring weather
was late in arriving. According to
the weather records, the temperature
during the March cold snap averaged
10 above zero.
In 1907, 1908 and 1909, grounding
subsequent weeks were filled with the
balmy breath of kind Chinooks which
relegated grim old winter far to the
rear Last year was an exceptionally
mild spring, due, undoubtedly, to the
failure of the ground-hOg to observe
his likeness in the February sunlight
Mr. Grover, after consulting his own
figures, became an ardent supporter
of the fine old idea that the hog pro-
badly knows what is best; also that
what is, is right
Based on Tradition.
There are many old rhymes and
traditions upon which weather
prophesies have been based, but none
are more widely circulated than those
regarding the second of February,
which in Eye olden time" was known
as Candlemas Day and was celebrat-
ed with a special church service, to
which each worshiper contributed
candle.
"Candlemas Day, Candlemas Day,
Half our wood and half our hay"
is a we'll known cOuplet which indi-
Gated to the ancient British yeoman
that the winter was half past.
IF Candlemas Day be far and bright,
Winter will take another flight,
But if Candlemas Day bring cloud and
rain
Winter is gone and won't come
again"
is another version of the same old
theory.
The introduction of the grounding
into the traditions surrounding the
novation and is said to have origi-
mated with the negro superstitions of
"ole Virginny.''
According to their stories, the
grounding wakes up from a long
sleep and comes out on the second
day of February to see if the winter
is over If the day is clear and
bright so that the sun throws a shad
ow on the snow the grounding takes
fright and returns to his hole for six
weeks more. If it is cloudy however,
he remains out over night, and as a
consequence warm weather COM
mences Immediately and the farmers
prepare for an early spring.
'Brer Grounding comes out fer to see
the day,
Mr.. Sun shows his shadow and skeers
i'm away,
Brer Grounding, he trots long back
to his hole
An fer six whole weeks more it am
goin ter be cold.''
is the versified rendition of this old
negro tradition.
The English Version.
Although the grounding has no con-
nection with this day there are many
old superstitions connected with Can
dlemas Day This is especially true
of Scotland, whose inhabitants firmly
believe in the old legend:
IF Candlemas Day is fair and clear
There'll be tWa winters in the year"
In Scotland, if a tenant fails to pay
his quarterly rent on Candlemas Day,
it is a sure sign that he will be in
disfavor with the landlord; for it is
one of the four term days in the Scot
fish law for this transaction.
In the Roman Catholic church Can
delmas Day is, as its name signifies,