Why do we hang on to pointless traditions like Groundhog's Day?

[MsAnthropy]

It is the dumbest ritual we have ever come up with.

[sniffa]

1. dumber than vaLentines day?

or guy fawkes day?
or fLag day?
or coLumbus day?

[MsAnthropy]

2. All of those are stupid too! It's a conspiracy by the calendar printers!

[Ilsa]

4. Now what a minute...

we usually throw parties on Guy Fawles Day...

[movie_girl99]

22. do you mean Guy Fawkes Day? n/t

[Ilsa]

24. Yeah, typo. "L" is next to "K". n/t

[Ilsa]

3. We need something in February for the non-Valentines Day people?

We like furry creatures?

Reason for a regional party?

Something for Katie and Matt to talk about so they don't have to discuss why over 1,400 soldiers and 100,000 Iraqis are dead?

[MsAnthropy]

7. #3 is a winner

I get so tired of being smothered in fluff when our kids are dying.

[hyphenate]

5. Because it's fun

And takes our very tired and overworried minds off all the shit in the world, even if it's only for a short while. Serves the same purpose as April Fool's Day, May Day, Secretaries' Day and other small, single day "holidays" that we have grown to seek out.

[kick-ass-bob]

6. Tourism.

nuff said.

[liberalnurse]

8. It keeps us connected to our heritage.

Embrassing the days of simpler time...This is how our culture survived, hunting and farming was the family's livelihood thus the seasons dictated success or failure, life and death.

http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm

snip>
According to the original creation beliefs of the Delaware Indians, their forebears began life as animals in "Mother Earth" and emerged centuries later to hunt and live as men.

When German settlers arrived in the 1700s, they brought a tradition known as Candlemas Day, which has an early origin in the pagan celebration of Imbolc. It came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Superstition held that if the weather was fair, the second half of Winter would be stormy and cold. For the early Christians in Europe, it was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of Winter. A lighted candle was placed in each window of the home. The day's weather continued to be important. If the sun came out February 2, halfway between Winter and Spring, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather.

[MsAnthropy]

10. Wow, I learn so much at DU! I'd never heard that story.

[liberalnurse]

12. Well, I grew up

in Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh.....as a child, it was as important as Christmas to us.

[Bridget Burke]

13. February 2nd is also St Bridget's day....

She was a legendary Irish patroness of learning & light. "Coincidentally", most of her shrines were formerly sacred to the goddess Brigid--also a patroness of learning & light.

[MsAnthropy]

14. COOL! I just sent this info to my co-worker Bridget! Thanks!

[bleedingheart]

9. yes because my buddy in the office brings in great Groundhog cookies

so there... ;-)

they are gingerbread with little raisin eyes...and they taste great with tea or coffee...

[underpants]

11. I thought it was pretty nice how they mentioned tsunamis and mudslides

I thought that was a nice touch.

[no name no slogan]

15. So gubmitt workers get another paid holiday

go bureaucrats!!!

[TahitiNut]

16. Show me another holiday that celebrates nature.

No other holiday even comes close to honoring the creatures with whom we share the planet. Clearly, Groundhog Day is vested with the usual idiotic anthropomorphism, but it's nothing compared to the rest of the parade of "look at how great we are!" navel-gazing days.

[MsAnthropy]

18. How about Arbor Day?

[TahitiNut]

20. Have you ever seen that one mentioned on TV? (I haven't.)

I don't think it's even printed on my calendar. I vaguely recall planting trees when I was a kid 50 years ago, but I don't recall any recognition/celebration recently. Perhaps if I hung around Nurseries that sold trees I'd see the commercialization?

[MsAnthropy]

21. It's different in every state--check the Arbor Day website:

http://www.arbor-day.net/arbor-day-state-dates.htm

[Hand]

17. Insh'Allah... nt

[MsAnthropy]

19. What does this mean?

[dr.strangelove]

23. There are WAY dumber rituals than groundhog day.

What is so dumb about using a small animal to predict the end of winter?

We all know this is just an old silly tradition. It really just a chance to laugh about an old silly tradition with friends. What is the problem. We celebrate birthdays with friends, when all that is is really an arbitrary date based upon how many solar revolutions the planet made since you were born. That seems dumb too, but many people do it anyway.

Why discourage a reason for people to get together in early February, talk, dance, sing, eat a nice meal and party?

[KurtNYC]

25. According to Mark Burnett, Americans are starved for ritual

And they just can't get enough of them. Burnett produces all of the reality shows that end with people getting fired or sent home. Even the last segment of home makeover shows is a kind of ritual as the homeowners go from room to room chanting "oh my god! oh my god!"

Organized religion fed this ritual appetite for centuries and television is the new church.

[MsAnthropy]

26. He may be right--the repetition is comforting I guess

[GalleryGod]

27. And a BUSH (pick one) SOTU

:puke: