Punxatawny Pete's Midwinter Festival

Hi, All,

Punxatawny Pete here. Yes, Yes, I know. You think you have heard of me. You think I predict winter, or spring, or something like that. Well, that is my brother Phil, not me, buddy. I don’t go in for all of that hoopla and other stuff. And honestly, I couldn’t tell you why he does it. Phil is so blind, he couldn’t see his shadow if it sat on him. But he just loves all the people and the cameras and the attention. And honestly, who really cares whether or not he sees anything. The bottom line is February 2nd is the middle of winter. Duh. So of course you are going to get six more weeks of winter. The Spring Solstice is March 21st. So don’t get your hopes up, buddy, okay?

No, I like my warm cozy bed, and my long winter snooze. I do get up and celebrate the midwinter feast-of-lights with my friends, the cats, who live next door. Now those cats, (no pun intended), know how to pah-teeee. Yesiree, buddy, they do. They get out their candles, and they light them. And I am not talking one little candle here. No siree. I mean these dudes have THOUSANDS of candles, and they light them in their temples, and they light them in their homes, and just about anywhere else they can think of. I mean, they must spend half the winter making these candles. Now THAT is ambitious. And I have to say, it is quite an impressive sight to see them lit up all over the place.

Well, once they get all of them candles going, they dance around in a big circle around a huge bonfire. Then they get going with the singing, and the gongs, and the bells and the chimes. My goodness, it is enough to wake up the dead. You’d think if anyone could wake up old spring, they could. Well, of course, they know there will still be six more weeks of winter. But they know how to have a good old time.

After they sing and dance themselves silly for half the night, they have a feast with fish cakes and catnip tea by the gallons, and all sorts of other fancy things. Then they finally wind down and go on home to settle in for the rest of winter.

I don’t mind celebrating with them. It is great fun. What? What’s that you say? My brother Phil is sick? He can’t get up and come out? You want ME to stand in for him?

Well, uh, gosh, yes, that would be just great. You’re paying me HOW much for this appearance? Why, that would be just great!

(Pete pats his fur into place and smiles into the camera). What do you think? Is this my good side? Would you like my pawtograph? Maybe I will celebrate with those cats next year. This is much more fun than sleeping the winter away.

Purrs, BugBug