Clinton Seniors celebrate the groundhog and the hope of spring

The column recalls Groundhog Day traditions, notes Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow while Wiarton Willie and Fred la Marmotte did not, and lists local Clinton Seniors news including a meeting on Feb. 19.

February is noted for Valentine's Day and for Groundhog Day, and the Clinton Seniors column takes a lighthearted view of both. The article traces Groundhog Day back to Germany's Candlemas and explains how the groundhog's emergence from hibernation became a folk sign of spring. It recalls some of the holiday's quirky history and mentions how North American communities mark the day. Local items for the Clinton Seniors Association are included alongside the seasonal reflections. Notable details: - Groundhog Day links to the Candlemas tradition and the old belief that sunshine on Feb. 2 meant six more weeks of winter. - A groundhog leaving its burrow after hibernation is a natural, seasonal sign that spring is approaching. - The article notes Punxsutawney Phil's long ceremonial title and reports he saw his shadow on Feb. 2. - The National Climatic Data Center is cited as finding Phil's predictions matched U.S. temperatures 39% of the time for 1988–2012. - Two Canadian groundhogs, Wiarton Willie (Ontario) and Fred la Marmotte (Quebec), reportedly did not see their shadows this year. - The Clinton Seniors Association's next regular meeting is on Thursday, Feb. 19 following lunch at the Clinton Seniors Centre (217 Smith Avenue); birthdays listed include Isabel Haining (Feb. 27) and Diane Lacharite (Feb. 28). Summary: The piece presents Groundhog Day as a playful tradition that gestures toward spring and includes historical context and local notes. It reports mixed shadow sightings among North American groundhogs and records Phil as having seen his shadow this year. The column also provides community details for Clinton Seniors, including the Feb. 19 meeting.