Guten Morgen Alles:
Bear Day? Ja! For those of us mit "Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch" (Pennsylvania German) roots who know the meaning of the word "Fersommlinge", (a gathering) the unofficial "bear day" idea goes back to pagan times as being the midwinter event when bears started to leave hibernation and go on the prowl... und Ja, nothing, NOTHING, dear reader... is more curious, or adventuresome, or just plain dangerous than a sleepy (and HUNGRY) Pennsylvania black bear waking up and starting to look for food. No garbage can, dog, cat, or chicken, will be safe for weeks!
Fersommlinge is therefore an opportunity for humans to meet and "party on" during an otherwise quiet time of year, und remember die mudderschprooch (mother tongue) und eat plenty of sauerkraut, mit honey und sugar-glazed, clove-spiked winter ham.
(Hmmm...honey? No wonder bears wake up....
)Of course, was ist ein groundhog after all, but a (somewhat safer) sort of mini-bear? As it is safer to hang around a groundhog hole than a bear den,
people could better guess how long winter was going to last, depending on what the groundhog saw on that day, rather than have some black bear come out and chew their leg off. (Remember what curiosity did to the cat?) 
Churches did what they could to change the meaning of this time from those pagan traditions to having a day of great religious significance. Candlemas is a celebration of the presentation of Jesus in the temple, and of the purification of the Blessed Virgin, and is one of the oldest Christian celebrations; marking this exact point of midwinter, as well as being exactly 40 days after Christmas. In many lands, Candlemas is still well known and widely celebrated. In our country however, (while bears are largely ignored anymore) the groundhog seems to have taken over; as the battle between Pagan and Christian traditions seems to be never-ending.
Groundhogs und bears, however, are not the only animals interested in this day.
Many of you are aware of "Groundparrot Gilligan", my dear parrot companion of many years. Gilly predicted the length of our Lakewood winters here on the 'Deck for years. Gilligan sadly passed away several years back, and was replaced by a small conure named "Badweather BB". BB is so named because of his tendency to predict the winter season, as Gilligan did.
This morning, (going against the groundhogs, probably due to some clouds over by the Rice Ranch) little BB did not see his shadow, and you know what that means. For Lakewood at least, spring should soon be in the air for us, and before we know it, we will be back to planting gardens, cutting grass, and sneezing at all the pollen. These points being made, Badweather BB is so named for a reason. Although the end of winter is in sight, there will still be a few bodacious snows, followed by a few equally bodacious rain storms. BB loves water, and takes his daily bath with gusto, so there it is dear friends...
Take from all of this what you will...
Oh ja, one more old Pennsylvania expression that we 'Deckers and others might be wise to remember:
"Wer lauert an der Wand, Heert sie eegni Schand", meaning "If you listen through a wall, you will hear what they say about you."
At least, remember what Pete Seeger taught us..."Die gedanken sing frei". (Thoughts are free!)
Ah well... Man kann nicht immer gewinnin. (You can't win 'em all!)
Back to the banjo...