Skip Navigation
Falvey Library
Advanced
You are exploring: Home > Blogs

Photo Friday: Icy Mornings

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning …

Wm. Wordsworth (1770-1850)

If you were lucky enough to be on campus this morning, you would have seen thick, magical ice, worn like a winter coat on every branch and shrub. When students return to campus on March 7 after Spring Break, morning scenes like this may be rare until next winter, so enjoy it while you may. 


Photo by Joanne Quinn. 


Like

Cat in the Stax: The Lore and Scandals of Groundhog Day

By Ethan Shea

It’s Groundhog Day, and as residents of Pennsylvania, we should all rejoice, as this holiday originated in our state with the one and only Punxsutawney Phil. According to local lore, there really is only one Punxsutawney Phil, and there has never been another. In fact, the original Phil has been making annual weather predictions since 1886. Despite the average lifespan of groundhogs being only three years on average, Phil is currently over 135 years old.

Phil’s secret to longevity is the “elixir of life,” a secret drink he enjoys every summer at the Groundhog Picnic. Each serving of this magic drink grants Phil another seven years of life.

By the time this blog is published, Phil will have already made his weather prediction. However, there are other groundhogs throughout the country who take to the stage every Groundhog Day. My personal favorite (aside from Phil, of course) is Staten Island Chuck, who is formally known as Charles G. Hogg. Chuck has been New York City’s official groundhog meteorologist since 1981, and in spite of his relatively young career in the meteorology industry compared to Phil, he is no stranger to controversy.

In 2009, Chuck bit former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg during the Groundhog Day ceremony, and as a result, Chuck was secretly replaced by his granddaughter Charlotte for future festivities. Moreover, during Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first Groundhog Day ceremony, he dropped Charlotte! One week later, Charlotte passed away, and the Staten Island Zoo did not announce her death until several months later.

There has been lots of controversy surrounding whether de Blasio inadvertently killed Charlotte. Some even believe the Staten Island Zoo attempted to hide her death, but since the event, the zookeepers have confirmed they do not believe the fall was the cause of Charlotte’s death.

Some other famous groundhogs worth knowing are Buckeye Chuck of Ohio, Chuckles XI of Connecticut, Chattanooga Chuck of Tennessee, and Pierre C. Shadeaux of Louisiana.

Hopefully no more scandals about today’s holiday are revealed in the future, and all the nation’s groundhogs continue to perform their sacred duties in peace.

If you’d like to take part in today’s festivities from the comfort of your home, consider picking up the classic movie Groundhog Day, which is available here at Falvey on DVD or through streaming. Happy Groundhog Day everyone!


Headshot of Ethan SheaEthan Shea is a first-year English Graduate student and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.


Like
1 People Like This Post

 


Last Modified: February 2, 2022

Ask Us: Live Chat
Back to Top