Hedberg: Let’s unfriend Columbus Day

After the latest celebration of Groundhog’s Day — the galas, the entertainment, the next-day hangover - I began to wonder if maybe the big problem in this country is that we have too many holidays.

Let’s take Groundhog’s Day, for example. Whose idea was that? The notion that a rodent in Pennsylvania is exalted because he supposedly can predict whether spring is right around the corner or not sounds like some kind of hocus-pocus ritual dreamed up by some of our weirder ancestors who also believed in burning witches at the stake.

Regardless of the intent, what does a groundhog in Pennsylvania have to do with the weather in Idaho? Has anybody checked this overgrown ground squirrel to see if he has anything to say about climate change? And even if he did, what does Groundhog’s Day do for us, other than prolong our depression over the relentless winter weather?At least, thank God, the post office stays open on Groundhog’s Day. Which is more than we can say about Columbus Day/ Kathy Hedberg , Lewiston Tribune. More here .