Wednesday, February 2 is Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Day was first observed on February 2, 1887 in Punxsutawney, PA. It was the idea of a local newspaper editor. It has it's origins from the Celts, who celebrated Imbolc to mark the beginning of Spring. Christians changed the holiday to "Candlemas." In certain parts of Europe, they believed a sunny Candlemas meant 40 more days of winter. Germans developed their own take on the belief, by adding that the day had to be proved to be sunny only if a badger saw his shadow. Germans settling in Pennsylvania brought the custom with them and used one of the local groundhogs instead. Legend has it that if the groundhog sees his/her shadow, we will have 6 more weeks of winter.
Groundhog Day can really sneak up on you – unless you are the star of the Feb. 2 holiday. In that case, you likely have been preparing for your moment in the spotlight for months. Just ask Queen Charlotte, the beloved groundhog who lives at Discovery Place Nature and is looked upon each year to determine the city of Charlotte’s weather pattern for the next six weeks.
Since Queen Charlotte, who weighs around 11 pounds, is crepuscular – meaning she is mostly awake at dawn and dusk – she isn’t always easy to spot at the Museum. Her Royal Highness spends most of her day burrowed inside the nest in her enclosure. (She also really enjoys napping in the hollow logs she has in there so be sure to peek in those as well on your next visit!)
In the wild, groundhogs typically hibernate in winter, but because she is not exposed to the elements, Queen Charlotte does not go into full hibernation mode. Still, the Queen spends most of the winter months – from November to early March – eating less and sleeping a lot more.
Naturalists at the Museum work with Queen Charlotte all year round but give her extra attention during the months leading up to her big holiday. Since she was not born in captivity, Queen Charlotte isn’t always fond of being held or petted. Staff take her out regularly to build up her tolerance to human interaction. And, as with all royalty, she requires frequent brushing and a manicure should her nails get too long.
In the rodent world, groundhogs are considered very intelligent, which is why we trust them with this important weather prediction. Staff often will hide food or wrap it in a paper bag for Queen Charlotte so she can sharpen her mind while she eats. Queen Charlotte, like her groundhog peers, is a pure vegetarian, enjoying greens, roots, bark, nuts, berries and other fruits. The Queen’s personal favorites include walnuts, sweet potatoes, apples and carrots.
Unlike the famous Punksutawney Phil, Charlotte doesn't use her shadow or lack thereof to predict the weather. When Groundhog Day comes around, Museum staff place her favorite treats in two different bowls for Queen Charlotte to choose from. Whichever bowl she opts to eat out of determines the weather fate of the Queen City – either an early spring or six more weeks of winter. It's as simple as that! As for the accuracy of her method, well that's debatable!
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