Punxsu-what? Post g-dog day musings

Groundhog Day. What a fantastic and highly useful holiday! It's a time to gather with friends and family to celebrate the emergence of the prognosticator of all prognosticators.

What?

I've always been a fan of Groundhog Day. Why? Because it's ridiculous. Now, I realize there are a number of people in Punxsutawney that are huge fans. It's ingrained in their culture, and I will try very hard not to belittle that. Try- that's all I can promise.

When one enters a college in Michigan, one may notice the lack of celebration of certain holidays that one is previously accustomed to celebrate. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Presidents Day, Columbus Day, and Groundhog Day. Of course, the celebration of most of these holidays merely meant a day off from school (because I'm not Jewish). Groundhog Day did not. HOWEVER! It was still mentioned. In grade school, there was often a nice picture of a groundhog to color. In high school, it was recognized, and people actually wondered whether Phil saw his shadow or not.

And then college happened. It was as if none of the aforementioned holidays existed. I realize I went to a Christian university, but there was very little mention of the Jewish holidays (which we need to be at least culturally aware of) and some didn't even know what they meant! As a South Jersey girl, this was quite the revelation! I was astonished. Disappointed. I could hardly believe my ears! And Presidents Day - the day where every kid loves because you don't have to go to school, and there really isn't anything else you HAVE to do that day! Hardly recognized in college. All those dead presidents probably feel snubbed.

So anyway, back to Groundhog Day. It was like it didn't even exist my freshman year. I exclaimed - HEY! It's FEBRUARY! GROUNDHOG DAY IS TOMORROW! (this was on the 1st of the month). I think my roommate said, "huh, so it is." That's it. So I devised a plan.

Phil was far away. I didn't own a groundhog. How could I possibly get people to care?

LIGHTBULB! I would make a groundhog! Now, I am not God, therefore I couldn't make a real live groundhog, so I went with brown paper. I stuff the little critter full of newspaper, drew some eyes, and badda-bing badda boom! Groundhog! But he needed a home. Hmm.

More brown paper, some staples, and a little bit of tape, and I had a highly accurate representation of a groundhog hole (and growing up on a farm, I know what those look like). I put fake Phil in the fake hole and strategically place him and his home in the middle of the hallway in our dorm. And I made a big sign that said "Happy Groundhog Day!"

Now, this may sound silly to you. In fact, it sounds silly to me! But there was no other way. An intervention was necessary. Universities should not be ignoring such a monumental occasion! How many other countries believe a Groundhog named Phil can predict the weather? One. Canada. And I bet their universities care.

You may argue against the necessity of such a holiday. After all, spring technically always starts 6 weeks after February 2nd. And there is this wonderful thing we call the Farmer's Almanac.

Granted. But everyone knows traditions need to be upheld for the sake of tradition. Without pointless holidays where would our country be? The very possibility frightens me.