Mix of cheers and groans as Wiarton Willie predicts six more weeks of winter
By Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
WIARTON, Ont. - A mix of cheers and groans arose from a crowd gathered in Wiarton, Ont., as Canada's best-known weather prognosticating groundhog solidified a unanimous prediction among three famous furry forecasters - six more weeks of winter.
It was disappointing news to those who have had enough of winter, but a great outlook for the many skiers and snowmobilers in the crowd of several hundred people gathered for the early morning prediction from Wiarton Willie.
"There is the sunrise, send the news to the printer," proclaimed South Bruce Peninsula Mayor Gwen Gilbert, passing along Willie's pronouncement after leaning over and cupping her ear to his enclosure.
"My shadow I see - six more weeks of winter."
Folklore has it that if a groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day he'll flee to his burrow, heralding six more weeks of winter - if he doesn't, it means an early spring.
More to the story
ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100202/national/groundhog_day_canada
History of groundhog day
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day
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