Few modern-day Christians who are not clergy or theologians will be able to tell you, right off the tops of their heads, what February 2 signifies. It is also , of course, the Feast of Candlemas, 40 days after Christmas Day. And the traditional celebration has nothing to do with the weather…
Candlemas
Candlemas, itself, evolved from the ancient celebration of ‘the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple’. Wikipedia has all the details on that, and other Christian observances that stem from that event, one of the principle Feasts of the Christian Calendar.
But Groundhog Day as we celebrate it today appears to have its origins in the seasonal traditions of Western Europe, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands, where they started celebrating the weather-oriented tradition several hundred years ago. The earliest recorded North American reference comes in the 1840s, in the folklore of the Pennsylvania Dutch. From that root grows the thriving vine that we call Goundhog Day. But there is strong proof that the Dutch and Germans originally celebrated what they called Badgers’ Day. Same rules; just substitute a Badger for the Groundhog. Both are hibernating mammals. Just be careful. Badgers are notoriously cranky critters. Moreso just as they are coming out of their Winter sleep.
As an aside: February 2 – regardless of what you call it or how you observe it – is traditionally the day old-timers take down their Christmas decorations, if they haven’t already done so.
Foretelling the coming of Spring
For those who are young or those who hail from other cultures where the day is not observed: Groundhog Day is traditionally the day that local folklorist Weather forecasters haul a groggy Groundhog out of his dean to determine whether he sees his shadow. If it’s sunny and a shadow clearly appears, then we’re in for 6 more weeks of Winter. If it’s cloudy, that means warmer weather is coming, auguring an earlier Spring.
The oldest and most enduring Groundhog Day celebration is held annually in Punxatawney, PA., where their town’s biggest celebrity, Punxatawney Phil, emerges from his den to examine the weather. Either way, a week of feasting and celebration ensues. This year. it appears that Phil won’t see his shadow, since the entire U.S eastern seaboard is engulfed in what may turn out to be a record snow event that could last several days altogether, bringing up to 2 ft. / 60 cm of the white stuff to regions east of the mountains that run from the Canadian border to northern Georgia.
Here is Canada, we have Wiarton Willie from Georgian Bay town of the same name, and Shubenacadie Sam, from Nova Scotia, whose modi operandi are pretty much identical to that of their ‘southern cousin’, Phil.
How to celebrate…
No Groundhog recipes! At least, not from me. And, certainly, none calling for Badger.
Recognising that Groundhog is mainly Dark Meat, I recommend Chicken Thighs or Bunny Protein as substitutes. But tell your adult and junior diners that it is GH, just to see what kind of rise you can get from them…
Get fancy and use Rabbit in place of Chicken in your fave Coq Au Vin recipe.
Try Rabbit with Chicken and Sausage in Paella. This is similar to the traditional up-land version of Paella that’s a staple in the interior of Spain and Portugal, where seafood isn’t easy to get.
Hasenpfeffer is a traditional German Rabbit Stew. (See photo, above, left.) As with most European Rabbit recipes, traditional cooks stew the Rabbit whole, but some of the higher-rated recipes on the Web call for de-boning and cubing the meat. It’s up to you. However, cooking the Rabbit whole is a lot easier, and you get all the flavour goodies that proceed from cooking Red/Dark Meat on the bone.
DO try the Dumplings; they’re traditional, too. Or substitute Spatzele (Noodles).
Serve with roasted or steamed Root Veggies, drizzling gravy over all.
Tex-Mex variants
Having roasted or stewed the Rabbit (or the Chicken Thighs), shred or ‘pull’ the Meat off the bones (see photo, top of page), and use however you would employ Pulled Pork, Shredded Beef or White-Meat Chicken.
Use smaller or leftover pieces of Meat in Stews or Soups.
Make ‘Sloppy Joes’ type Sandwich Buns.
Wine for all?
Don’t worry about serving the kids wine, in the recipes above and others you may want to try. The great majority of recipes you’ll use Rabbit in will simmer long enough that about 98 per cent of the alcohol will evaporate out. Even from the Gravy.
Have Fun!
Make these and other Rabbit and Chicken Thigh dishes stirring occasionally and allowing them to simmer for 4 hours or more, filling the whole house with the great aromas of roasting meat and sizzling drippings.
~ Maggie J.