Spring is on its way

After yesterday's snow storm, there is some good weather news. The majority of the groundhogs has predicted an early spring.

The first to make this prediction was Shubenacadie Sam of Nove Scotia.

National Post Reports:

Canada's first rodent of winter predictions, Shubenacadie Sam, emerged from his pen Saturday at 7 a.m. ET to the sound of bagpipes and a town crier but no shadow, just rain and a crowd of around 50 people who began to celebrate the coming spring. "It is raining cats and dogs and groundhogs and he did not see his shadow," said Sue Penney, spokeswoman for Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park, which sits about 35 kilometres north of Halifax. "We are celebrating that winter will be over early." Because of Nova Scotia's time zone, Sam made the first groundhog prediction in Canada.

Read the full story here.

This prediction was confirmed by the so called "dean of Canadian forecasters", Wairton Wille.

680 News has this Report:

Wiarton Willie says the winter that ravaged most regions of Canada this year will give way to an early spring. The country's most famous weather predicting groundhog did not see his shadow when he woke up from his slumber Saturday. Folklore says 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. The origins of the tradition aren't clear, but it's likely related to the fact that Groundhog Day falls midway between the start of winter and the beginning of spring.

The dissent was by Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow.

CBC has this in depth story about Groundhog day.

- Shashi K. Raina, Toronto

Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net

EMPLOYMENT LAW • CIVIL LITIGATION • WILLS AND ESTATES • FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE