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    Groundhog Day B2

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    Наталія Гонтаренко
    The document discusses the history and origins of Groundhog Day traditions. It explains that Groundhog Day originated from European weather predicting traditions on Candlemas Day, and was later adapted in North America using groundhogs as the predictive animal. The document also provides context on groundhogs and why February 2nd was chosen for the predictions.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Groundhog Day B2

    Uploaded by

    Наталія Гонтаренко
    29 views1 page
    The document discusses the history and origins of Groundhog Day traditions. It explains that Groundhog Day originated from European weather predicting traditions on Candlemas Day, and was later adapted in North America using groundhogs as the predictive animal. The document also provides context on groundhogs and why February 2nd was chosen for the predictions.

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    Groundhog_Day_B2

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    The document discusses the history and origins of Groundhog Day traditions. It explains that Groundhog Day originated from European weather predicting traditions on Candlemas Day, and was later adapted in North America using groundhogs as the predictive animal. The document also provides context on groundhogs and why February 2nd was chosen for the predictions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    29 views1 page

    Groundhog Day B2

    Uploaded by

    Наталія Гонтаренко
    The document discusses the history and origins of Groundhog Day traditions. It explains that Groundhog Day originated from European weather predicting traditions on Candlemas Day, and was later adapted in North America using groundhogs as the predictive animal. The document also provides context on groundhogs and why February 2nd was chosen for the predictions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 1

    1

    Read the text and match the subheadings to the correct paragraphs.
    • And can it predict the weather?
    • So when did the groundhog become part of this?
    • OK, but first – why 2nd February?
    • What’s a groundhog anyway?

    The History of

    I see a little groundhog, furry and brown.


    He’s popping up to look around.
    If he sees his shadow, down he’ll go.
    Six more weeks of winter - oh, no!

    Perhaps you’ve heard this poem before, or perhaps you’re


    wondering what a groundhog is and what it’s got to do with
    the weather. Let’s find out!
    1) ____________________________________________
    2 Read the clues and complete the crossword.

    It’s a type of rodent that belongs to the squirrel family. It Down


    spends the winter sleeping in its underground burrow and 1 The location of the first organised Groundhog Day
    comes out again in early spring. celebration
    2)  ____________________________________________ 2 The groundhog belongs to this family.
    Well, not exactly! In Canada and the USA, there is a 3 If a groundhog sees this, it goes back into its burrow.
    superstition that says if a groundhog comes out of its
    4 Hedgehogs, badgers, groundhogs and bears are this
    burrow on 2nd February and the sky is cloudy, then it will
    stay above ground and spring will begin. However, if it’s type of animal.
    sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow, it will go back 5 The name of a Gaelic goddess
    under the ground and winter will last another six weeks! 6 This is how much longer winter will last if the
    This is a rather strange way of predicting the weather, but it groundhog goes back underground.
    actually has a long history.
    7 The groundhog symbolises this in Native American
    3)  ____________________________________________
    folklore.
    This is the halfway point between the Winter Solstice – the
    shortest day of the year – and the Spring Equinox, which Across
    is the first day of spring. On this day in Europe long ago, 5 An old Christian festival celebrated in Europe
    Christians celebrated a festival called Candlemas. They said
    8 Another name for the shortest day of the year
    that, if the weather was sunny on Candlemas, winter would
    carry on. If it was cloudy and raining, however, spring would 1 2
    soon begin. This idea probably came from an even older
    Gaelic superstition about 2nd February and the goddess 3 4 5

    Cailleach.
    4) ____________________________________________
    6
    Well, the Europeans thought that hibernating animals such
    as hedgehogs, badgers and bears woke up at Candlemas
    and came out of their holes and caves to greet the Virgin
    7
    Mary. When European settlers moved to North America,
    they brought the tradition with them. They chose the 8
    groundhog to make their predictions about winter because it
    was a hibernating animal. Also, in Native American folklore
    the groundhog was an important symbol of wisdom. The
    first arranged Groundhog Day celebration was held in
    Pennsylvania in 1887. The tradition spread across the USA
    and Canada, and continues to this day!

    © Express Publishing PRINTABLE

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