Kharkov marmot Timko “predicted” that spring will come in six weeks this year, Suspilne Kharkov reports.. In particular, during his awakening at the biological station in the village of Gaidary, the groundhog did not see his own shadow.

“Timko says that we have had enough of an unstable spring. That spring can only be in Ukrainian, so we are waiting for our Ukrainian warm spring in six weeks,” noted the groundhog keeper Vladimir Ronkin.

Timko “predicted” spring on Groundhog Day, which is celebrated in the world and Ukraine in particular on February 2. On this day, people try to determine by the behavior of marmots what spring will be like and whether it will come soon.

The ritual of awakening the groundhog was brought to America by immigrants from Germany in the 8th century.. Groundhog Day was first celebrated in the United States in 886.. That day in the town of Punxsutawney, Phil the groundhog was pulled out of his hole.. After some time, this town was named the World Weather Center.

[see_also ids\u003d"

The most famous soothsayer today lives in Pennsylvania on Indian Hill.. And the animal's name is Big Phil. Despite the fact that most of Big Phil's predictions did not come true, he is simply insanely popular. In total, six popular meteorological groundhogs live in the USA and Canada: Staten Island Chuck, Shubenacad Sam, Balzac Billy, Wiarton Willie, Babak Jimi and General Beauregard Lee.

Ukraine also has its own “soothsayers” among marmots.

In particular, Timko the Third lives in the Kharkov region, and the girl marmot Marusya lives in the Lviv region.

In our country, Groundhog Day became popular in 1993. The holiday drew attention after the American comedy Groundhog Day was released..

Also in Ukraine, Groundhog Day coincides with the holiday of the Presentation of the Lord, which, after the transition of the OCU to a new calendar, is also celebrated on February 2. It is believed that Candlemas can predict what the weather will be like in the spring..