VFK Groundhog Day Mini-Quest 2011

February 2, 2011
 February 3, 2011	
==Description==
Today is Groundhog Day and the end of Winter is on the horizon! This day has special significance as it is the day exactly halfway between the start of winter and the beginning of spring. It is a day of celebration as it means that the coldest, darkest season of the year is half over! The Winter Solstice, the day with the fewest daylight hours, is six weeks past and daylight is getting perceptively longer! On today's quest we will take a quick look at the delightful tradition of Groundhog Day! 
Your reward for completing this quest will be 1,000 credits, and the Groundhog Day 2011 Pin!<BR><BR><BR>
===Prizes===
===Questions===
1. Groundhog Day is an ancient celebration. Medieval peoples believed that hibernating animals would come out of their dens or burrows and check the weather on the second of February. Countries who observed this tradition depended upon their own local animals to predict the weather. What other name is given to Groundhog Day?
* Cross-quarter Day
* Winter Midpoint
* Candlemas
* All of the above
2. If these animals saw their shadows, winter would last another 6 weeks and they should go back into hibernation. If they did not see their shadow, it meant that the worst of winter was over. This day is also referred to as "Candlemas" when Christian churches would bless candles for the year. In England, Canada and France they would expect the "Candlemas bear" to emerge and check the weather. Go to the Corridor in Space Age and say: "Winter, Winter, go away!"
3. Many places in the US and Canada have Groundhog Day celebrations. The most famous of these is in Punxsutawney, PA. It started when "The Punxsutawney Spirit" newspaper first printed the news of Punxsutawney, PA observing Groundhog Day in 1886. The following year started the tradition of going to Gobblers Knob for the Groundhog Day celebration. What is the name of Punxsutawney's celebrity groundhog weatherman? 
* Punxsutawney Phil
* Buckeye Chuck
* General Beauregard Lee
* Octorara Orphie
4. Many communities and some zoos have taken up the charming tradition of observing Groundhog Day by watching their local groundhog of choice predict the weather. Punxsutawney Phil's prognostications date back to 1887 with nearly all his predictions recorded. Go to the Victorian Park in Victorian Age and say: "Happy Groundhog Day!"
===Answers===
1. All of the above
2. Go to the Corridor in Space Age and say: "Winter, Winter, go away!"
3. Punxsutawney Phil
4. Go to the Victorian Park in Victorian Age and say: "Happy Groundhog Day!"
Category:Quests