What the Groundhog Sees: By Mama Donna Henes, Urban Shaman

February 2 marks the halfway point of Winter. If the Spring Equinox signals the season of birth in nature, then the midpoint of Winter can be likened to the quickening of life. That magic moment when an expectant mother experiences the child within her shift position for the very first time. Yikes! It's alive!

Until this instant, her pregnancy was a purely abstract concept; academic, like Spring seems when the days are dreary, short and cold. It isn't yet time for the birth, but it is a cheering comfort to know that there is growth and movement. That Mother Nature is progressing in Her timely manner. And all Mom has to do is wait. It isn’t spring, yet, but it is coming.

Prophecy is a recurrent mythic and symbolic theme of the Midwinter festivals. The concept of prophecy is drawn from the foresight and faith that spring, in all its verdant glory, is on its predictable way, even though the hard white winter still surrounds us.

Li Ch'un, which means, “Spring Begins,” is celebrated in the more temperate climate of China during the first week of February as determined by a lunar calendar. At this time, the new almanacs for the year are issued. The people are then informed of the agricultural prospects predicted for the coming year through the means of effigies, which are drawn through the streets.

These spring oxen are dressed according to the weather forecasts listed in the almanac. If the head is yellow, they know that great heat is foretold for the coming summer; green tells of a lot of sickness in the spring; red denotes drought; black shows rain; and white means high winds and storms to come.

On this halfway marker of the winter it is customary in many places to foretell future weather conditions. In Greece, people maintain that whatever the weather on Candlemas, as the church calls the midwinter, it will continue the same for forty days to follow.

The Scottish say, “If Candlemas day be dry and fair, the half o’ winter’s to come and mair. If Candlemas day be wet and foul, the half o’ winter’s gane at Yule.” According to the Welsh, “If Candlemas Day is fair and clear,
there’ll be two winters in one year.”

The Winter midpoint is also a time of weather prediction in Germany, where farmers claim they “would rather see wife upon a bier, than that Candlemas Day be sunny and clear.” Midwinter is designated Badger Day in recognition of the underground movement toward life which is manifest in this season.

When the first wave of German farmers immigrated to this country, they brought Badger Day with them. Faced with a local lack of badgers, the Pennsylvania settlers were forced to substitute the American ground hog in its stead. And Ground Hog's Day has, ever since, continued to pique our popular fancy. 

Each year on February 2, the attention of the nation is directed to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where Ground Hog’s Day is big business. Weather forecasters and news reporters converge to stake out the burrows of these furry hibernating creatures in order to ascertain the true prognosis of the coming of spring. Though decidedly silly, Groundhog Day is a direct and thriving descendant of age-old midwinter divinatory practices. Will Phil, the ground hog, see his shadow? Will Spring come on time? Tune in tonight for the eyewitness news report.

OK. Now pay attention. This is how it works: if the ground hog sees her shadow, it means that there are still  six more weeks of winter. If she doesn't see her shadow, it means that spring is only six weeks away. Tricky, eh?

There are always six more weeks of winter. Spring is always six weeks away. That is why we mark the day in the first place. To remind us that winter is half over. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, by Ground Hog's Day you should still have half of your food store and half of your fuel if you are going to make it through the remainder of winter.

With the first sensing of the coming of Spring at Midwinter, we find ourselves antsy, anxious to emerge from our inward focus. We strain toward the annual vernal miracle of rebirth and resurrection. Yearn for the light. But it isn’t yet time for Spring, and Spring always starts on time. First we have to finish the second half of winter.

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Donna Henes is an internationally renowned urban shaman, award-winning author, popular speaker, and workshop leader whose joyful celebrations of celestial events have introduced ancient traditional rituals and contemporary ceremonies to millions of people in more than 100 cities since 1972. She has published four books, a CD, an acclaimed quarterly journal and writes a column for UPI (United Press International) Religion and Spirituality Forum. Mama Donna, as she is affectionately called, maintains a ceremonial center, spirit shop, ritual practice and consultancy in Exotic Brooklyn, NY where she works with individuals, groups, institutions, municipalities and corporations to create meaningful ceremonies for every imaginable occasion.

For information about upcoming events and services contact:

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