Happy Groundhog Day 2025! As this post goes live, the sun has not yet risen. Therefore we have no official word on the Ground Hog Oracles’ predictions for the arrival of Spring. But I can guarantee you one thing… There will be NO talk of eating marmota monax in this post!
Punxatawney Phil – the original weather forecasting rodent, headquartered in Pennsylvania.
He is now the (sometimes) shadowy head of a whole network of underground operators
who collude every year on this date to predict whether we’ll have an early spring…
What we can tell you…
Is that any self-respecting ground hog who wakes from hibernation on February 2, in wintry Penn-sylvania, probably had help. In fact, Phil traditionally has three close associates who coax (drag him bodily) from his den for the ritual check to confirm whether he can see his shadow or not.
If he does see it, that means weather will continue clear and cold, and we’ll have at least 8 more weeks of winter. If not, tradition holds we’ll have an early thaw. Now-a-days, thanks to climate change, we have bo idea what he’ll see…
Nevertheless…
I tried promulgating Ground Hog recipes in this space one year. And was roundly criticised for ad-vocating ‘cruelty to legends. I won’t go there again…
Instead, I have some suggestions for a festive feast you can mount to properly recogise the con-tribution of Order Rodentia to the science of meteorology.
The realm of Myth…
I begin with the realm of Myth… As in, the Asian Horoscope, which is closely tied to the Lunar Calen-dar. February 2 usually falls within the 16-day envelope of the Lunar New Year celebration. The chief point of concordance between the two celebrations is, every 12 years, the Asian mystics spotlight the Rat as their animal mascot of the year.
If I have the math right, the last Year of the Rat was 2020. And the next is 2032. So, being smack in the middle, this should be a quiet year for Rat people…
But you can spice things up a bit today with a traditional Chinese New Year’s dumpling feast!
Multiple dimensions
Dumplings are the featured food of the Asian Dim Sum tradition. And Sunday is the traditional day of week or that observance. In addition, dumplings are considered one of the key ‘Good Luck’ foods folks are supposed to consume at the outset of the New Year. Large platters mounded with these steamed, wonton-wrapped bites symbolise ‘wealth’ and ‘abundance. Something we can all use a little more of these days.
For those of us who do not enjoy a family tradition of making our own Jiǎozi, every Asian grocery is well stocked with pre-made examples in a variety of formats and fillings this time of year.
First-timers will find it a fun way to kill an hour, just exploring the supermarket freezer compartments where the dumplings live. I recommend you start with at least three varieties in a range of fillings for your first Dumpling Feast.
If you have a have a bamboo steamer set-up, that’s the best way to cook them. If not, any steamer rig will do. Make sure you line your steamer’s compartments with parchment paper to ensure that your dumplings don’t stick! Or, you can pan-fry them for a crispier, more flavourful crust.
Dipping sauces
Complementary dipping sauces are at least as important as the dumplings themselves for a com-plete, traditional, fully-satisfying dumpling blow-out.
We have tried many dipping libations over the years. And our palates have settled on traditional Ginger Honey, and Garlic Soy. Thai Sweet Red Chili (Chicken) Sauce can be purchased ready-made at any Asian grocery. And Sister Erin absolutely adores sea-salty Abalone Sauce…
My take
Give your local Ground Hog a break, and leave him to snooze undisturbed… Let others risk life and limb at the points of those gigantic, chisely choppers and horrific hooked claws. Perform due dili-gence to two classic observances with a sumptupus dumpling fear tonight!
My questions to you:
Do you usually celebrate Asian New Year in ANY way?
Are you even a casual Dim Sum (Asian Dumpling) fan?
DO you wait with ‘bated breath for the annual Ground Hog weather forecast every year on this date?
Have you ever tasted Ground Hog?
If you said ‘NO’ to either of the first two questions above, this is the year to correct the oversight!
Muse on that…
~ Maggie J.