VFK Groundhog Day Mini-Quest 2012

February 2, 2012
 February 3, 2012	
==Description==
Today is Groundhog Day! 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 and Spring is on the horizon! 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 look at the charming tradition of Groundhog Day!
Your reward for completing this quest will be 1,000 credits, and the Groundhog Day 2012 Pin!<BR><BR><BR>
===Prizes===
===Questions===
1.In the ancient celebration of Groundhog Day, Medieval peoples believed that hibernating animals would come out of their dens or burrows and check the weather on the second of February. What other name is given to Groundhog Day?
* Candlemas
* Cross-quarter Day
* Winter Midpoint
* All of the above
2.Countries who observed this tradition depended upon their own local animals to predict the weather. 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: "Early Spring!"
3.The US and Canada have Groundhog Day celebrations, and 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
* Octorara Orphie
* Buckeye Chuck
* General Beauregard Lee
4.Punxsutawney Phil's prognostications date back to 1887 with nearly all his predictions recorded. Go to the Victorian Park in Victorian Age and say: "Have a Happy Groundhog Day!" 
===Answers===
1. All of the above
2. Go to the Corridor in Space Age and say: "Early Spring!"
3. Punxsutawney Phil
4. Go to the Victorian Park in Victorian Age and say: "Have a Happy Groundhog Day!"
Category:Quests