VOA慢速英语：土拨鼠日

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Pennsylvania’s world famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted six more weeks of winter on Thursday after seeing his shadow.

宾夕法尼亚的举世闻名的土拨鼠Punxsutawney Phi周四根据它的影子预测还有长达六周的冬季时光。

This event is part of an American tradition called “Groundhog Day.” It takes place every February 2 in the small Pennsylvanian town of Punxsutawney.

这项活动是美国的一个传统，称作“土拨鼠日”。每年2月2日在宾夕法尼亚的小镇Punxsutawney举行。

Since 1886, thousands of people have come together on this day on a hill called “Gobbler’s Knob.” They watch as a groundhog named Phil predicts the length of the winter season. Today was the 131st official Groundhog Day.

从1886年起，成千上万的人们在这一天来到一个叫做Gobbler’s Knob的山丘。他们观看一只叫做“菲尔”的土拨鼠预测冬季的长短。今天是官方过得第131个土拨鼠日。

A groundhog is a large rodent, and part of a family known as marmots.

土拨鼠是一种大型啮齿动物，家族的部分成员就是大家熟悉的土拨鼠。

On Groundhog Day, Phil the groundhog comes out of a hole in the earth just after sunrise. As the tradition goes, Phil will then look for his shadow on the ground. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of cold weather during winter. If Phil does not see his shadow, warmer weather will arrive soon.

在土拨鼠日这一日，太阳刚刚升起，菲尔就从洞里爬出来。按照传统，菲尔会在地面上寻找它的影子。如果它看到了自己的影戏，则这个冬季还要持续六个星期。如果它没看到自己的影子，那么温暖的季节马上来临。

From Europe to America

The story of Groundhog Day comes from an early Christian European tradition, says John Griffiths. He helps take care of Phil the groundhog.

土拨鼠的故事来源于欧洲基督教的传统。一个叫John Griffiths的人帮助照看叫做菲尔的土拨鼠。

“It stems from the tradition of ‘Candlemass.’ February 2 actually is the halfway point of winter. In Europe, they would melt their candles down and make new candles … and it was basically a day for communities and folks to get together.”

这源于传统的“圣烛节”。2月2号是冬季的一半，在欧洲，人们将会燃烧完蜡烛然后点燃新的蜡烛。这一天实际上是社区人们团圆的日子。

Griffiths said that when European settlers came to Pennsylvania from Germany, they held on to that tradition. They decided that the groundhog was the best animal to continue the tradition.

格里菲斯说，从德国来的欧洲移民者来到宾夕法尼亚的时候，他们开办了这个传统节日。他们认为土拨鼠是将这个传统进行下去的最佳动物。

The town of Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in 1886, but the first official Groundhog Day at Gobbler’s Knob happened the next year, in 1887.

Punxsutawney小镇第一次举办这个活动是在1886年。但是官方正式在 Gobbler’s Knob举办土拨鼠日是在第二年，也就是1887年。

The legend of Phil

菲尔的传说

Phil is taken care of by a local group known as Phil’s “Inner Circle.” Griffiths is a member of the Inner Circle. He says the group helps pull Phil out of the hole on Groundhog Day. The members also take care of the day-to-day activities of the Groundhog Club. The Groundhog Club organizes the annual celebration.

菲尔由当地一个叫“菲尔内部生活圈”的组织照料。格里菲斯是该组织的一名成员。他说，组织在土拨鼠日这一天把土拨鼠从洞里拖出来。成员们还负责土拨鼠俱乐部每天的活动。土拨鼠俱乐部负责组织每年的庆典。

Phil has become very important for the town of Punxsutawney. This year, between 15,000 to 20,000 people came to town for the celebration. The event helps support the local economy.

菲尔对Punxsutawney小镇来说特别重要。今年，大约有一万五千人到两万人来小镇参加庆典活动。这个活动帮助发展当地经济。

Many people say that Punxsutawney Phil is always correct with his weather predictions. Elaine Owen traveled to Punxsutawney from Greenwich, Pennsylvania. It was her first time coming to the event.

多数人表示菲尔的预测还是很准确的。伊莱恩·欧文来自宾夕法尼亚的格林威治，这是她第一次来参加这项活动。

“It’s just been a tradition that everybody says that the groundhog is very accurate. And whatever he predicts is what happens.”

每个人都说土拨鼠的预测很准确，这是一个传统。它预测的天气都会出现。

As the story goes, the groundhog that appeared in this year’s event is the same groundhog that saw its shadow in 1886. Phil is able to live so long because he drinks “groundhog punch,” made from a secret recipe. One sip is given to Phil every summer. It is enough to give him many more years of life.

故事中说，今年活动出现的土拨鼠正是1886年看见影子的那只土拨鼠。菲尔之所以能活这么长时间是因为它喝了“土拨鼠宾治酒”，该酒的配方仍是个迷。每年夏天都会给菲尔喝一点。这就足够使它活这么长时间了

More than just the weather

天气预测多方面小能手

The Stormfax website looked back at Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions over the years. It found Phil has been correct 39 percent of the time. He usually predicts six more weeks of winter weather.

Stormfax网站观看土拨鼠往年的预测情况。网站发现，菲尔的正确率为39%。它经常预测冬季还有六个星期。

Griffiths says Groundhog Day means more to people than just predicting the weather.

格里菲斯说，除了预测天气，土拨鼠日还有更多意义。

“It’s not religious, it’s not political, it’s all about having fun. It’s a time of the year… it gives everybody a chance to get out and for one day, cast all their cares off and have a good time.”

这非宗教非政治，纯属娱乐活动。这是每年中给人们一个出来聚会的日子，这一天人们抛弃一切顾虑，快乐玩耍。

Visitors agree. One visitor who went by the nickname of “Winter” says the event helps bring the community together.

游客们普遍同意这个观点，一位昵称为“冬季”的游客表示，这个活动就是把社区的人们集合起来。

“I think it brings a community together, and people get really excited… generally speaking Groundhog Day is something that, for a very long time, has brought communities together."

“我认为这个活动能够使人们在一起，人们都能很开心，普遍说来，在很长时间内，土拨鼠日一直都是把人们集合起来的日子。”

Whether it is for the community, the weather prediction, or just the tradition itself, Groundhog Day is one of America’s most unusual celebrations.

无论是为了社区，还是预测天气，还是传统本身，土拨鼠日一直都是美国重要的传统节日。

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I’m Jill Robbins.