From time to time when I read blog posts and comments I feel as though I might live in another planet far out in the Universe.
Much is said about Groundhog Day and the movie of the same name, made in 1993. How come I didn’t ever get to see this movie? What was it about? When I look at the top 25 movies of 1993 and there are only a handful which I remember and the only film I recall seeing is Sleepless in Seattle.
And the background
history to Groundhog Day?
It’s
fascinating. And not more than a little weird. Apparently, this tradition goes
back in time to Candlemas Day and the blessing and distribution of
candles. On this day, if the weather was
sunny then the superstition was people could expect a protracted hard winter; if
the sky was cloudy then warm weather would soon arrive.
Early German
settlers arriving in Pennsylvania brought this tradition with them but somehow it
managed to gain a new twist and this is where the groundhog came into the
mix. It all started in 1887 Punxsutawney,
Pennsylvania when a newspaper promoted the idea.
Since then
it has become quite a tourist attraction in Punxsutawney and these days
festivities attract thousands of people.
I’d like to think no groundhogs are harmed in connection with all this
hoop-la.
Will I be
watching the movie? I don’t think so.
As with most science fiction and fantasy, Groundhog Day is of course, not actually about its premise, the endless repetition of groundhog day. It is about a man who needs to get his priorities in order. It's a pretty good flick.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Science fiction and fantasy. I wasn't so wide of the mark at all when I wrote that 'I feel as though I might live in another planet far out in the Universe'.
ReplyDeleteAlphie