The Snow Moon

Today is a special day on two counts: Ground Hog Day and the full moon, named the Snow Moon by the Native Americans.

Native Americans and our early settlers relied on the phases of the moon for all sorts of things from time-telling to seasonal changes to crop harvests. Every full moon has a name related to something significant about that time of month. Most people are familiar with the name, Harvest Moon, the full moon in October that allowed farmers to harvest their crops well past sunset. Past that one, a full moon is just a full moon to most everyone.

Last month's full moon was the Wolf Moon. This moon signified the dead of winter and earned its name because howling wolves were known to hang around the Native Americans' villages and settlers' camps. Food is scarce at this time of year and the wolves hoped for some scraps from the people.

This month's full moon is the Snow Moon signifying the month known for its heaviest snows. This year, the Snow Moon falls on White man's Groundhog Day. The burning question: did the Snow Moon live up to its name and did the groundhog predict six more weeks of winter?

Short answer to both: no.

With temperatures hanging around 34 degrees all night last night, it rained through the night and into the morning, remained cloudy all day, and rained again in the afternoon with the temperature reaching a balmy 37 degrees.

Oh, some snow and other freezing stuff tried to mix in at times, but I don't reckon that's how February's full moon earned its name.

Since it was cloudy and rainy, the groundhog didn't see his shadow so we'll have a short winter. It's been two-weeks long so far this year so, according to the groundhog, we'll only have a couple of more weeks of it.

I strongly suspect, though, that no groundhog came out of his hole today. Groundhogs may not be the smartest creatures around, but they certainly aren't so dumb as to wake up out of a deep sleep to scamper out of their warm den and into a freezing rain just to see if it can see its shadow.

Punxsutawney Phil does, but that's only because the White men force him out. I hope he's got a good agent and is getting paid well for his show, though. If not, it won't be long before PETA will be up there trying to shut the show down on grounds of animal cruelty.

The editorial comment aside, the bottom line is that the Snow Moon let us down and the groundhog says, "Get ready for spring."

Stay tuned for the coming report of the near-blizzard that will hit before the end of the month. That's my prediction.



© 2006
Mark Darien
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