"If only pictures could talk in the newspapers like they do in the movies, we would learn from Mr. Groundhog first hand whether we're due for six more weeks of winter, or whether spring is at hand..." --Ypsilanti Daily Press, February 2, 1934
"The Germans recited:
"For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until the May.
"This passage may be the one most closely represented by the first Punxsutawney Groundhog Day observances because there were references to the length of shadows in early Groundhog Day predictions.
"Another February 2nd belief, used by American 19th century farmers, was:
"Groundhog Day - Half your hay.
"New England farmers knew that we were not close to the end of winter, no matter how cloudy February 2nd was. Indeed, February 2nd is often the heart of winter. If the farmer didn't have half his hay remaining, there may have been lean times for the cows before spring and fresh grass arrived." --more history from here
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