Shubenacadie Sam
Shubenacadie Sam is a famous Canadian groundhog who lives at the Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park in the town of Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. Every February 2, on Groundhog Day, Sam's shadow is closely observed at sunrise to make the traditional prediction whether there will be an early spring. Due to Nova Scotia's easterly timezone, Sam makes the first Groundhog Day prediction in North America[1] (along with his Cape Breton groundhog cousin "Two Rivers Tunnel" at the Two Rivers Wildlife Park in Mira River, Nova Scotia). The prediction ceremony is heralded by a bagpiper and town crier and draws an early-morning festive crowd of families and visitors. The Shubenacadie Sam tradition began about 1987 and differs from most other famous groundhogs as he is not woken from hibernation for Groundhog Day.[2]
Shubenacadie is one of several towns throughout North America known for their winter-predicting groundhogs. The most famous is Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (star of the movie Groundhog Day). The most famous Canadian is Wiarton Willie. There is also "Brandon Bob" of Brandon, Manitoba, "Staten Island Chuck" in New York, "Balzac Billy" in Alberta, "General Beauregard Lee" in Lilburn, Georgia, Two Rivers Tunnel in Cape Breton and "Gary the Groundhog" in Kleinburg, Ontario, among many others.
[edit] See also
- Punxsutawney Phil
- Wiarton Willie
- Balzac Billy
- Buckeye Chuck
- General Beauregard Lee
- Staten Island Chuck
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
Shubenacadie Sam "Groundhog", Shubenacadie Provincial Wldlife Park website
