Fred la marmotte (French: Fred the Marmot, lit. 'Fred the Groundhog') is a groundhog located in Val-d'Espoir near Percé, Quebec, whose behaviour is used to predict weather on Groundhog Day.[1] Fred is the official groundhog of Quebec for Groundhog Day predictions.[2] The name "Fred la marmotte" is passed to a succession of groundhogs, that are replaced as they retire or die.[3]
Usage of Fred edit
According to the tradition of Groundhog Day, if the enlisted groundhog sees its shadow, then spring will be delayed; if it does not see its shadow, then spring will be early.[4]
Fred was the only groundhog located on a World Heritage Site to be used for Groundhog Day weather prediction.[5]
Succession of Freds edit
The original Fred, "Gros Fred" ("Big Fred"; also called "Fred Sénior"[2]), was engaged from 2010 to 2017 and again in 2019; his son "Petit Fred" ("Little Fred") stood in for the 2018 event.[6] The succeeding Fred, son of "Fred Sénior" ("Fred Senior", the original Fred) was found dead on February 2, 2023, coincidentally on Groundhog Day.[7][2] The next year, a new Fred predicted an early spring.[3]
Past predictions edit
| 2010 | "Late spring"[8] |
| 2011 | "Late spring"[9] |
| 2012 | "Late spring"[10] |
| 2013 | "Long winter"[11] |
| 2014 | "Early spring"[11] |
| 2015 | "Long winter"[11] |
| 2016 | "Late spring"[12] |
| 2017 | "Early spring"[13] |
| 2018 | "Early spring"[14] |
| 2019 | "Late spring"[4] |
| 2020 | "Early spring"[15] |
| 2021 | "Early spring"[16] |
| 2022 | "Late spring"[17] |
| 2023 | "Long winter"[11] |
| 2024 | "Early spring"[18] |
References edit
- ^ "Gaspésie: la marmotte Fred prédit un printemps tardif". Le Journal de Québec (in French). February 2, 2019.
- ^ a b c Brigitte Dubé (February 2, 2023). "Fred, la marmotte gaspésienne, meurt avant d'avoir pu prédire l'arrivée du printemps" [Fred, the Gaspesian marmot, died before being able to make a prediction]. ICI Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine (in French). ICI Radio-Canada.
- ^ a b "An early spring? Quebec's new Fred la marmotte says 'yes'". montreal.ctvnews.ca. BellMedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "Groundhog Day: Quebec's Fred la marmotte predicts a late spring". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2019.
- ^ "Fred, marmotte de l'Unesco". Chaleurs Nouvelles (in French). January 11, 2019.
- ^ "Fred, la marmotte gaspésienne, prédit un printemps tardif". Le Soleil (in French). February 2, 2019.
- ^ Wilton, Katherine (February 2, 2023). "Quebec's beloved Fred la Marmotte dies on Groundhog Day". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ^ "L'hiver risque d'être long, foi de Fred la marmotte". La Presse (in French). February 2, 2010.
- ^ "La marmotte du Québec prévoit un hiver plus long". La Presse (in French). February 2, 2011.
- ^ "Quebec's forecasting groundhog expects more winter". CBC News Montreal. February 2, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Fred la marmotte". Retrieved February 5, 2024.
- ^ "La marmotte gaspésienne Fred prédit un printemps hâtif". Journal du Québec (in French). February 2, 2016.
- ^ "Live update from Groundhog Day: Quebec's Fred la marmotte predicts an early spring". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2017.
- ^ "Spring is on the way according to Quebec's Fred la marmotte". CBC News Montreal. February 2, 2018.
- ^ "Q&A: Fred la Marmotte on love, rivalry and the burden of Groundhog Day". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Q&A: Canada's weather-predicting groundhogs call for early spring". CTV News. February 2, 2021.
- ^ "Q&A: Montreal weather, Groundhog Day: Fred la marmotte predicts 6 more weeks of winter". Montreal Gazette. February 2, 2022.
- ^ "An early spring? Quebec's new Fred la marmotte says 'yes'". montreal.ctvnews.ca. BellMedia. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
External links edit
- "Fred la marmotte officielle du Québec" (in French).