Ms. G – The Massachusetts’ State Groundhog at Mass Audobon’s Drumlin Farm, Image by J. Hogg Phoenix
Words by Joey Marmot Phoenix
That great groundhog prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil is being poked and prodded and bribed with copious amounts of fresh corn this week in anticipation of the biggest and most marmot-y day of the year. The day in which a rodent predicts the weather! Read more about this year’s celebration and results here.
That’s right, you Marmot-lovers. Groundhog Day is coming up this Sunday, leading all of us to swoon and the rest of the world to ask the question: What the hell is a groundhog anyway and why do we care? Because really, why would you care about groundhogs when there are superb owls to stare at and adore.
It may please you – if you like Bill Murray, terrible 90s movies, and small furry creatures – that Jeep has given Bill Murray the opportunity to reprise his snarky 1993 Groundhog’s Day role in an upcoming Super Bowl Commercial.
If you haven’t seen the movie, The Cabot has a showing this Sunday at 3:00 pm. (If you don’t know what a groundhog is, well, you are beyond help.)
If Superb Owls are not your thing, then obviously groundhogs are (both is also good), so here are some facts that you didn’t know you needed to know about the world’s most famous Marmots and Marmot-Lovers.
Also, it is a REAL holiday. Thank you very much, Lupita.
Punxsutawney Phil has a group of Phaithful Phollowers
These top hat-wearing gentle-marmots are called The Groundhog Club, and they’ve been carrying on the tradition since 1887. These are the kinds of people who love nothing more than to reach into the hole of an unsuspecting groundhog and interrupt his breakfast for the sake of knowing the weather.
Rude.
Groundhogs Speak Groundhogese
Of course they do. What did you think they spoke? Russian. How else would the Groundhog Club know if the little bastard saw his shadow? Do you think they make this up?
No, because that would be lying. Marmot-lovers don’t lie.
Punxsutawney Phil has a wife
Groundhogs aren’t meant to be alone! Her name is Phyllis. She’s a better cook than you.
Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions are kept in a sacred book called The Stormfax Almanac
Image by J. Hogg Phoenix
The Stormfax Almanac claims that Phil’s predictions have been right 100% of the time. (The truth is that it’s much closer to 35%). No one points out the fact that Phil is predicting the weather in Gobbler’s Knob and the rest of us in the Northeast are just on our own.
Gobbler’s Knob Isn’t the only Groundhog’s Day celebration locale
There’s one in Staten Island featuring Groundhog Chuck (Charles G. Hogg). But more importantly, Mass Audobon has its very own Groundhog’s Day event with the Massachusetts’ State Groundhog, Ms. G.
Joey Marmot Phoenix is the rodent loving Managing Editor of Creative North Shore. To send them a note or pictures of your favorite groundhogs – write to joeyphoenix@creativecollectivema.com
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