According to Roberto Blondin, the organizer of Quebec’s annual la Jour de Fred festival, Fred may have died last year while in hibernation.On Groundhog Day on Thursday, Canadian groundhog Fred la Marmotte died before predicting the arrival of spring.
9-year-old Fred was discovered dead overnight by Roberto Blondin, who also organizes the annual la Jour de Fred celebration in Val-d’Espoir, Quebec, according to Reuters.Blondin tried to wake Fred, but, according to The Guardian, Fred displayed “no vital signs.” According to Reuters, Blondin claimed Fred might have passed away last year while hibernating.
According to the source, Blondin claimed that the only thing that is certain about life is that nothing is. “Well, it’s true this year. Sadly, that is true. I’m sorry to say that Fred has passed away.”In order to fulfill the custom, Blondin offered a child standing in the sun a plush toy groundhog in place of Fred.
A shadow was formed that predicted that spring would be later than expected and that winter would last an additional six weeks. According to Groundhog Day lore, if a forecasting groundhog sees its shadow on the holiday’s morning, there will be six more weeks of winter; however, if the animal doesn’t, spring will arrive earlier than expected.
Last year, New Jersey groundhog Fred la Marmotte Milltown Mel died only days before his traditional Groundhog Day appearance on Feb. 2.
Milltown Mel’s yearly prediction ceremony was canceled due to his untimely death and the inability to find a new groundhog to make Mel’s 2022 prediction.
Who Is Fred la Marmotte?
Fred la marmotte (found dead on February 2, 2023) was a groundhog from Quebec, whose behaviour was utilised to forecast weather on Groundhog Day.Groundhog Day tradition holds that if the enlisted groundhog sees its shadow, spring will be delayed; if it does not see its shadow, spring will be early. Fred was found unresponsive on Groundhog Day, February 2, 2023.
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