Groundhogs almost unanimous for an early spring

Sunday was a day of symbolic fortune telling on Canadian minds, and not just who would win the Superbowl. Since 1887, Feb. 2 has been a day where meteorology has fallen on the shoulders of humanity’s little furred friends — Groundhog Day.

According to the History Channel the first Groundhog Day was celebrated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Canadian Encyclopedia states the tradition has relations to European beliefs connecting “the waking of hibernating animals and the end of winter.”

Groundhog Day’s forecasting furry friends emerge from their homes and based on their reaction to their shadow determines how long winter will last. If they see their shadow and run back into their burrows it means six more weeks of winter. If they do not see their shadow it means an early spring.

There are seven weather forecasting animals, six of which are groundhogs. Nova Scotia has embraced their Atlantic ecosystem and uses a lobster named Lucy.

The breakdown of each prediction from east to west coast:

Shubenacadie Sam (Shubenacadie, N.S.): Six more weeks of winter

Fred la marmotte (Val d’Espoir, Que.): Early spring

Lucy the Lobster (Barrington, N.S.): Six more weeks of winter

Punxsutawney Phil (Punxsutawney, Pa., USA): Early spring

Wiarton Willie (Wiarton, Ont.): Early spring

Manitoba Merv (Stonewall, Man.): Early spring

Balzac Billy (Calgary, Alta.): Early spring

While continental Canada and the United States are expecting an early spring it seems the Atlantic provinces will be dealing with a few more weeks of deep chill according to our furry friends.