You may want to begin the day with a lesson on
how Groundhog Day came to be. I found the story at
Education World (educationworld.com) which states
(paraphrased):
When the first settlers arrived in the area known
today as Punxsutawney Pennsylvania, they brought
with them a centuries-old tradition known as
Candlemas Day. On Candlemas Day, clergy would bless
candles and distribute them to the people. The weather
of the day was considered an important indicator of
the weather to come. German peoples picked up on the
Candlemas custom and believed that if a hedgehog cast
a shadow in the sunlight, another six weeks of winter
was inevitable. When the Germans arrived in the
Americas, no hedgehogs were to be found, so they used
a groundhog as a stand-inl. So it is that the tradition
was born. Today we call each February 2nd Groundhog
Day, and if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow when
he comes out of his borrow, we are in for six more
weeks of winter, or so the story goes.
Once the history of the holiday has been told, kick
the day off with a delightful groundhog pancake. On a
large, round pancake, add smaller round pancakes for
cheeks, chocolate chips and marshmallows for eyes, a
chocolate chip nose, marshmallow teeth, and banana
ears! You can find an example at thejoysofboys.com.
These are sure to bring a smile to your little one’s face!
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