Been a long time...

Hi all,

Well, it's been a while since I've been on here. The usual stuff got in the way but I'm back and I'll try to keep the updates more regular.

So today is Groundhog Day! And Punxy Phil saw his shadow so northwestern Pennsylvania is in store for six more weeks of winter. Not a big stretch for that part of the world. But is it just a coincidence that the Superbowl is this Sunday? What? Groundhog day and the Superbowl?

Groundhog day is related to the christian holiday of Candlemas and the pagan Imbolc. Imbolc in particular celebrates the half way point from the winter solstice to the spring equinox. Both were feast and celebration days and especially in northern Europe both were seen as a time to celebrate winter being half over. Pennsylvania German settlers carried these customs and the weather prognostication myths of various animals to the new world and, a couple centuries later, we have Groundhog Day!

What is the Superbowl if not a chance to spend a Sunday (a church day after all) sitting around, eating, with friends, in a nice warm house away from the winter cold and snow? Doesn't a football look suspiciously like a groundhog? Superbowl Sunday has become our very own midwinter feast day.

Now who has some good chili recipes?