Groundhog Day in Cleveland, Ohio

Groundhog Day! That means several of us were glued to the television set early Tuesday morning to hear the most famous weather man in the country make his prediction for the next six weeks. Groundhog Day began in this country in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18^th and 19^th centuries as a German tradition although it goes back to ancient Europe where badgers and bears were used instead of a groundhog. Tuesday, however it was another reason to party.

While Punxsutawney Phil is the best-known groundhog, several others across the country have also appeared over the years to weigh-in on the weather. Here in Ohio we have Buckeye Chuck. Tuesday morning our local news station Fox 8 Cleveland had a little fun with the day displaying a groundhog stuffed animal on the news desk and playing the Sonny and Cher sound clip from the movie every time they returned from a commercial break. The weather reporters in town seem to have fun with the holiday more than anyone else and one even suggested he saw Phil arriving at the station in a limo and being given the star treatment. For Cleveland weather sage Dick Goddard, this day is his chance to impart his knowledge of groundhog lore.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History got in the act by offering Groundhog Sun-day on January 31^st, the eve's eve of Groundhog Day. The festival included an appearance by Lake Erie Eddie a whistle pig who is Cleveland's answer to the groundhog, crafts, and demonstrations. A party at the Greenhouse Tavern located at 2038 4^th Street in Cleveland's downtown will finish off the day with the release of their new brew "Groundhog, Greenhouse Brew" that they brewed at the Buckeye Brewery with this day in mind.

Phil saw his shadow, which means, unfortunately, six more weeks of winter. When you live in a northern climate such as Cleveland that is not the news you want to hear. Lucky for us Buckeye Chuck did not see his shadow, but that simply means we have a groundhog controversy - just what Cleveland sports fans like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day
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