It’s February 2nd and this is the day that Mr./Ms. Groundhog may or may not see his shadow. If he does, could there there be six more weeks of winter?

Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grund’sau dåk, Grundsaudaag, Grundsow Dawg, Murmeltiertag; Nova Scotia: Daks Day) is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den, and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.

While the tradition remains popular in the 21st century, studies have found no consistent association between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.

The weather lore was brought from German-speaking areas where the badger (German: Dachs) is the forecasting animal. This appears to be an enhanced version of the lore that clear weather on the Christian festival of Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter.

The Groundhog Day ceremony held at Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania, centering on a semi-mythical groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil, has become the most frequently attended ceremony. Grundsow Lodges in Pennsylvania Dutch Country in the southeastern part of the state observe the occasion as well. Other cities in the United States and Canada also have adopted the event. (wikipedia)

#GroundhogDay

(wikipedia) Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently has been observed in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated in February in the United States^[5] and Canada,^[6] while in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom it is observed in October.

Black History is not just a month long observance in February, but a continual look at African-American contributions to this country.

As Splash Mountain closes, it will undergo a transformation into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a whimsical attraction inspired by The Princess and the Frog.

Splash Mountain is a log ride at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. It was formerly located in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom before closing in January 2023. The ride is based on the animated sequences of the 1946 Disney film Song of the South. Although there are variations in the story and features between the two locations, each installation begins with a peaceful outdoor float-through that leads to indoor dark ride segments, with a climactic steep drop into a “briar patch” followed by an indoor finale. The drop is 52.5 feet.

In June 2020, it was announced that the U.S. versions of the ride would be receiving a new theme based on Disney‘s 2009 film The Princess and the Frog. The new ride, which will be titled Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, is scheduled to open at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom in late 2024. The Magic Kingdom version of Splash Mountain closed on January 23, 2023. The closing date for the Disneyland version has yet to be announced. (wikipedia)

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash_Mountain

https://ktla.com/news/california/when-will-disneylands-splash-mountain-close-for-good-theme-park-bloggers-weigh-in/

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/disneyland/splash-mountain/