Groundhog Day

The groundhog

Groundhog Day is a festival celebrated in the United States and Canada on 2 February. According to folklore, if it is sunny when a groundhog emerges from its burrow, sees its shadow and retreats into its  hideaway, the winter will last for six more weeks. On the contrary, if it is cloudy, according to the tale, the spring will come very soon. The festival is accompanied by numerous social gatherings, concerts, plays (usually skits), speeches and tasting of local specialities.

The greatest celebrations are held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This town was the set of a very popular 1993 film, 'Groundhog Day'. The film stars the Punxsutawney's favourite - groundhog 'Phil'. The marmot, which has a special group of caretakers at its disposal, emerges from its temporary home - an electrically-heated burrow in the presence of thousands of people and TV crews. 

The event has been transmitted live today by a Polish news channel - the latest news is that....Phil has predicted six weeks more of winter!

See a video of last year's celebrations :

Last year's prediction was : 'an early spring!'

My next post will concern the film 'Groundhog Day'. You'll have the opportunity to do some listening exercises !

Glossary

groundhog, marmot, woodchuck - świstak

festival - święto

event - wydarzenie

emerge - wyłaniać się

burrow - nora

hideaway - schronienie

retreat back - cofnąć się

on the contrary - przeciwnie

tale - opowieść, przesąd

sth is accompanied by - towarzyszą mu ...

numerous - liczny

gathering - zgromadzenie

play - sztuka (teatralna)

skit - skecz

speech - przemówienie

held - obchodzone

set - sceneria

favourite - pupil

caretaker - opiekun

at sb's disposal - do dyspozycji 

temporary - tymczasowy

heated - ogrzewany

in the presence of - w obecności

crew - ekipa

predict - przewidzieć, przepowiedzieć
prediction - przepowiednia

fortune-teller - wróżbiarz/wróżka

What do you think about this festival? What fortune-teller animal could we have in Poland? ;)

The photo comes from : http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=3977&picture=marmot