Whither the Groundhog?

Today, February 2nd, is Groundhog Day. Somewhat roughly shoved between the festive winter holidays and the procession of niche holidays such as Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and Easter, it's not a popular day with most people. While it is a welcome harbinger that the dark days of winter are on the wane, to most people it's a pesky reminder that the snow shovel and sweaters need to stay available for a few more (6!) weeks.

I enjoy Groundhog Day a great deal. It's perhaps the last holiday that's resisted its own Hallmark section; its origin is arguably more ancient than most of the holidays on the calendar; and it's the closest we can get to Spring at the beginning of February.

If you're celebrating this day with youngsters, there are plenty of crafts and activities you can do, especially about the seasons. If you're a little older and already have a good grasp of how the earth circles the sun, you can always watch the eponymous film, which will make you very thankful that the Santa Fe winter is comparatively short.