Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Useless Knowledge


Groundhog Day owes its true origins to the ancient Greeks, who believed that an animal’s shadow was its soul, blackened by the past year’s sins. While the animal hibernates, its soul is cleansed by nature, and if it wakes up before winter is over, it will see the dirty shadow and be horrified and then return to its den for more purification.

8 comments:

Wrestling Kitties said...

That is actually kind of interesting.

It is kind of weird to think that an animal would have a dirty soul though....So I wonder what they thought when they saw their own shadow?!?!

BTW - Greek History fascinates me I want to get some good history books and read up on it.

Unknown said...

Obviously Louis and I are into it as well, considering we have a daughter named Athena, a dog named Zoe and he's about to get a Greek statue tattoo. (We're Greeks)

Hurley said...

Not useless, just a little early...Feb. 2nd is over 4 months away...repost in 4 months, so I can bring it up in conversation. Let's hear some shit about Thanksgiving...I like the story where we let the Indians do our work, and then we put a gun to their head and made them teach us how to grow corn before we "helped" them move. I'm not sure which of us invented the slot machine, but is it was us, I think someone owes someone else a thank you!

Anonymous said...

hi first time here......how dare anyone have useless knowledge. Well sometimes thats me.

Iris Took said...

I actually agree with Hurley (for once). Not useless, just improper timing.

Totally interesting though!

Unknown said...

3 Things:
This was on my Google page today, so blame them for the odd timing.

Useless knowledge knows no time frame.

When you are Greek it's ALWAYS time for a Greek useless knowledge tidbit.

Put that in your pipes and sa-moke it.

Hurley said...

2 things: I can't believe Iris agreed with me, because she is usually so irrational. 2. N, I hope you're not going to start being one of those people that are so proud of their heritage that they start talking about it all the time...that would be as annoying as Iris agreeing with me.

Unknown said...

BEING OF EASTERN EUROPEAN HERITAGE IS AWESOME.