Celebrating his 59th annual festival, Wiarton Ontario's Albino groundhog Wiarton Wille will welcome crowds of people on February 2nd at the city's Bluewater Park.
This year's festival is already ongoing and offering activities like dog sledding, show shoeing, Zorb ball racing, astronomy, arts and culture, aboriginal crafts, obstacle course, archery, winter camping, survival and carving.
Of course the 'main event' will be to witness Wiarton Wille 's emergence after his long winter nap to officially predict a longer winter, or an early Spring. According to the tradition, if Willie sees his shadow usually on a sunny day and returns to his hole, he has predicted six more weeks of winter-like weather. If he does does not see his shadow, likely on a cloudy day, then he has predicted an early spring.
Wee Willie's scheduled appearance is set for tomorrow at 8:07 a.m.
This type of midwinter celebration involving an animal with predictive powers, was a key element of past Celtic culture. Tradition stating that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on February 2, the Pagan holiday of Imbolc, winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, the legend says spring would come early, just like our present Groundhog day celebrations.
The story of Canada's Wiarton Willie dates back to 1956. His fellow american weather prognosticator 'Punxsutawney Phil' emerges from his temporary home on Gobbler's Knob, in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Here's hoping for an early Spring!
ChateauguayCitizen.com