Groundhog Day! Written by Andrea Spaans February 1, 2024 Groundhog Day is a tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2 of every year, featuring a rodent meteorologist, Phil, is celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in 1887. The superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early. The ceremony at Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania has become the most frequently attended ceremony. It’s what’s known as a “cross-quarter” day, meaning it falls at the midpoint between one season and another. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks; groundhogs belong to a group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. They grow up to 25 inches long and can live for 10 years in captivity. (According to legend, Punxsutawney Phil is more than 125 years old thanks to the magical punch he imbibes every summer.) Groundhogs spend the winter hibernating in their burrows, significantly reducing their metabolic rate and body temperature; by February, they can lose as much as half their weight. When they’re out and about, the bristly rodents eat succulent plants, wild berries and insects—and they don’t mind helping themselves to garden vegetables or agricultural crops. How often is Punxsutawney Phil right? Sadly, the groundhog is often wrong when it comes to his predictions. Since making his first prediction in 1887, Punxsutawney Phil has been right 39% of the time, according to the Stormfax Weather Almanac however, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Environmental Information looked at the most recent predictions and found from 2012-21, Phil was right 40% of the time when comparing the national temperature averages.
Do you believe in Phil’s predictions? Are you hoping for an early spring, boy we are!
Plan for Vacation Day Written by National Day Calendar January 29, 2024 NATIONAL PLAN FOR VACATION DAYNational Plan for Vacation Day, on the last Tuesday in January, reminds us to plan our vacation at the start of the year for the rest of the year. The early bird gets to pack their bags and fly away to a little fun and relaxation! #PlanForVacationWith the frigid temperatures and growing snow piles, it’s easy to start daydreaming of sunny skies. Who else is dreaming of sandcastles and the vacation days to come? But, for many Americans, those vacation dreams turn out to be just that: a dream. Each year, Americans leave more than 600 million vacation days unused. Our work martyr attitudes combined with a culture of silence in the workplace is keeping workers at their desks instead of using their time off. To change this, National Plan for Vacation Day reminds us to plan our vacation at the start of the year for the rest of the year. When it comes to taking a vacation, it is the planners of the world who get the job done. Planners are more likely to take all their vacation time in a given work year and take more extended vacations than non-planners. They are also happier with their jobs, relationships, and health. So don't knock the planners who get out the door to vacation! Get planning!! HOW TO OBSERVE PLAN FOR VACATION DAYThree Easy Steps to Planning a VacationPlanning a vacation does not have to be a monumental task. Here are three easy steps to make it happen:
As we close out a month of resolutions, make this the year you focus on your bucket list—not your to-do list. Get ready to plan your vacation and use #PlanForVacation on social media. | Groundhog Day! Written by Andrea Spaans February 1, 2024 Plan for Vacation Day Written by National Day Calendar January 29, 2024 Christmas Lights December 20, 2023 Holidays in the Hills November 22, 2023 45th Annual Studebaker& Packard Car and Truck Show August 28, 2023 |