Good or Bad? - Writer's Choice

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

I don't have a Groundhog Day story, as I know very little about it (other than it involves a rodent predicting the weather)

Instead, I offer you a short piece (564 words) about the inner workings of our favourite Russian.

Click the pic to go to AO3.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks for joining in! That's one of my favorite photos btw. :D

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

It's a great image :-)

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

If IK looked at me like that, I would believe that he would dynamite me, too. Good story!

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you :-)
He does seem inscrutable in this picture.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

The original version didn't have groundhogs as it was predicting western European weather, it was attached to Candlemas day. And that's one of the festivals that were adopted from the preChristian pagans.

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will have another fight
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain
Winter won't come again

Which means that if we're under an anticyclone the weather will stay clear and cold, but if we're getting a succession of Atlantic lows they'll continue to bring in warmer, wet air off the ocean.

[redqueen88.livejournal.com]

It is also one of the mid-seasonal days - half-way between solstice and equinox - as you said, adopted from pre-Christian observances. The others are May 1 - May Day or Imbolc, Aug 1 - Midsummer or Lammas, Nov 1 - All Saint's Day or Samhain.

According to wikipedia: Imbolc (or St. Brigid's Day) was traditionally a time of weather divination, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens may be a forerunner of the North American Groundhog Day.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you, this very interesting :-)

[duckys-lady.livejournal.com]

He does have that look! Great story. :-)

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you :-)
It's a look which scare me if I was on the receiving end.