Groundhog Day’s European creature parallels – and surprising 3000-year-old origins
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Groundhog Day’s European creature parallels – and surprising 3000-year-old origins

BBC  

Groundhog Day’s European creature parallels – and surprising 3000-year-old origins Getty Images The US tradition of the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil emerging on 2 February to herald spring has fascinating origins – and creature parallels across Europe. Because of this, during I giorni della Merla, the locals say that if the weather is mild these three days, winter will extend longer – and if it's harsh, spring will come sooner. Alamy In Northern Italy, tradition says cold weather during "the days of the female blackbird" predicts an early spring. "These traditions can be traced back to Indo-European civilisations 3,000-5,000 years ago," says Venetian historian Elena Righetto, author of Calendario Tradizionale Pagano Veneto.

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