Ancient Roots, Modern Holidays for Kids - Groundhog Day Illustration

Ancient Roots, Modern Holidays for Kids - Groundhog Day

For Kids: Ancient Superstitions

There is an ancient expression that goes something like this: "If Candlemas be bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year."

Many of the ancient cultures believed that certain weather conditions at one time of the year could affect weather conditions at another. They also believed that certain animals had magical abilities. The ancient Egyptians, for example, believed that cats could protect their homes. The ancient Celts believed that groundhogs could predict the weather. There is no truth in this. It's just an old myth. But it's a delightful old myth.

In modern times, people pulled out this old superstition believed by the ancient Celts and created Groundhog Day!

Groundhog Day (Donn, cartoon PowerPoint)

Learn about the ancient Celts

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

For Teachers

Lesson Idea: Create a short myth about a wild animal that lives in your part of the world. Then, write an ancient style expression like the one above. It's not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes it helps to make up the expression and then write the myth to fit it he expression.