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weather1d ago
Marmot Day (Ground Hog Day) and the (Lack of) Law
- Federal recognition of Groundhog Day has never occurred, keeping offices open on February 2 unless it lands on a weekend.
- Alaska recognizes Marmot Day as an official state holiday, enacted in 2009.
- Historical proposals in Texas and Chicago show attempts to recognize Groundhog Day as a holiday or joke rather than official status.
- Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, has not pursued an official Groundhog Day state holiday as of the article's references.
- The piece tracks how folklore and weather lore intersect with law and public policy.
- Professor Victoria Sutton contributes legal perspectives on holidays and Indigenous sovereignty in the discussion.
- The article emphasizes strengthening Native sovereignty through journalism and community support.
- Alaska’s Marmot Day is tied to regional culture and school programs, rather than a weather forecast tradition.
- The article recounts historical Chicago alderman efforts and a humorous take on Groundhog Day.
- The narrative connects Groundhog Day with broader public policy debates and cultural heritage.
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