Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for February 02, 2025

…indeed I did, sadly.

Here in Spain catholics consider ’la Candelaria" as the last day to put away your Nativity Scenes, although most families do that right after Epiphany on Jan 6th, when the three Wise Men bring presents to eveybody

“Look to your left, look to your right. Don’t drive angry!”

Indeed?

Note to Groundhog: We’ve about had our “Phil” of Winter.

February 2nd – Religion inspired animal cruelty? I say let sleeping groundhogs sleep!

“la Candelaria”, he pitched for the Pirates, right?

I like the picture in the second panel.

The pagan gods would know more about northern winters than the middle eastern one.

Too many words for such a boring subject.

Delightfully educational.

I never knew where that tradition came from.

It is amazing how many Christian celebrations coincide almost perfectly with the ancient pagan celebrations which coincide with the seasonal periods of the solar year. Imbolic, half way between Yule and Ostara, the winter solstice and the vernal equinox.

Learning courtesy of GoComics.

Learned something. Thanks Jimmy J.

We (Salem, OR) are looking at the first snow of the winter, maybe. The next three weeks are cold, maybe snow, maybe sun, maybe rain. But in any case, it’s fruit tree pruning season… and grape vines.

And on to Ordinary Time, though in current Church Calendar, it is now the 4th week of Ordinary Time.

Phil is chillin’, enjoying the Caroles.

“No Mas! No Mas!” ☺

Cool!

And now, will you please take down the Christmas tree?

Actually, I once read a story talking about the celebration of Groundhog Day in the local paper. It ended with the fact that whether he sees his shadow or not is immaterial. There are 7 weeks between Groundhog Day and the vernal equinox.

Will Punxsutawney Phil now be put in charge of the National Weather Service?

NE Illinois. Overcast. Our local groundhog is Woodstock Willie, in Woodstock, Ill. Woodstock is where “Groundhog Day” was filmed. A little was in Waukegan, Ill.

Very correct in your analysis……

Mr. Johnson, thank you. I enjoy cultural history.

Groundhog is a rodent of the squirrel family.

Ground hog is sausage.

Perhaps I’m the only one who doesn’t know why A & J are outside, reading the newspaper, standing next to a decorated tree??

What do Europeans do? No groundhogs there. Do they use some other animal?

Yes…Many Catholics now put away all remnants of the Christmas season

Just looked, Phil is wrong 70% of the time.

coming home from church last night, I saw a decorated Christmas tree lit in a front window, must be that we keep them up til Feb 2 from now on!

February 2 is one of the four cross-quarter days, midway between solstices and equinoxes. It’s another example of astronomical significance underlying religious observations.

A Hoo-ha (bottom left-hand panel) is a fuss, uproar, commotion. It is also slang for a woman’s lady-bits.

I’d rather hear about Candlemas than BS about a groundhog coming out when there’s snow on the ground.

Note: When I moved down South, I soon learned that “hoo-ha” was a term that referred to a “delicate” part of the female anatomy. They can be very polite down here, bless their hearts.

Wow, learned something by reading the comics. Thank you.

My compliments. You can’t go wrong with Candlemas day.

Great info ! Thanks for such a happy strip today :-)

It’s Groundhog Day! Hit it Sonny and Cher!

Cultural myths about animals and weather, I can see. But since Christmas is a made up date, stolen from ancient Pagan festivals and celebrations, the feast day – whatever you call it – is just fiction.